Hyaluronic acid was discovered in 1934, but its use in cosmetics did not begin until the 1990s. It is made up of complex carbohydrate chains, linked together by several bonds. These chains are arranged in the form of spirals and have a high molecular weight with a great capacity to absorb water like a sponge.
It is a substance found in numerous tissues and organs of our body such as, for example, in the connective tissue that supports the spine, in cartilage, in the synovial fluid of the joints, in our epidermis. With the passage of time, the presence of this substance decreases significantly which triggers the progressive aging of the skin and, with it, the appearance of wrinkles, flaccidity or loss of firmness.
What is it used for?
One of the main properties of hyaluronic acid is its great capacity to attract and retain water. For this reason, its use in aesthetic treatments allows to rehydrate in depth the epidermis of the treated area so that its appearance is smoother and, by increasing its thickness and volume, also decrease the furrows of the skin making it look smoother and more radiant.
Over the years our body loses the ability to synthesize hyaluronic acid with the consequent effect of loss of skin tone, appearance of furrows and wrinkles and skin dehydration.
By injecting hyaluronic acid we can correct and reverse the signs of aging of the face. The most common areas of application are: lip contour and corner of the mouth, lip and facial volume, perioral wrinkles, bar code, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, periocular wrinkles, etc. Hyaluronic acid is the star of treatments in Aesthetic Medicine offices.
Are all hyaluronic acids the same?
In Aesthetic Medicine we use different types of hyaluronic acid. And depending on the indications of the treatment and the area to be treated, we will indicate one type or another. There is hyaluronic acid free of cross-linking, with a function of moisturizing and redensifying the skin and other types with different degrees of cross-linking that allow volumizing to a greater or lesser extent depending on the needs of each facial area to be treated. There are also specific hyaluronic acids for certain areas of the body: dark circles under the eyes, lips, cheekbones, hair, genitals, joints, etc.
When choosing a hyaluronic acid it is very important to take into account the following aspects: that it is as pure as possible and as similar as possible to the hyaluronic acid in our body, that it is easy for the doctor to inject and that it is not painful for the patient, that it adapts to the movements of the tissue, that is, that it is resilient to obtain natural results and that its effects are long lasting.
Why are its results so good?
As I have already mentioned, today we have different types of hyaluronic acid available for specific areas of the face and body. It is essential to use the type of hyaluronic acid designed and indicated for each area to be treated, in order to obtain the best results. Depending on the part of the face and the depth of the area to be treated, the type of hyaluronic acid must have different characteristics.
For example, the hyaluronic acid to be used in the lips and in mobile areas of the face must be able to adapt to the movements of the face and cannot be the same type as that used in areas such as the eyebrows or temples, which are not as mobile.
Another important aspect when treating a face is to avoid injecting more volume than necessary and to inject it in the points of greatest projection. Therefore, it is essential to put yourself in the hands of expert professionals who have knowledge of facial anatomy to avoid complications and to achieve harmonious and natural effects.
How long do the effects last?
The duration of the hyaluronic acid filler depends on the characteristics of the hyaluronic acid, whether or not it has cross-linking and the degree of cross-linking. In addition, another factor that influences its duration is the area of the face where it is injected and the depth.
In areas such as lips with more mobility and more blood irrigation, the duration is shorter than in deep and not so mobile areas such as dark circles under the eyes or a cheekbone or nose.
Another factor that also influences the duration of hyaluronic acid and, in general of all treatments in Aesthetic Medicine, are the patient’s habits. Smoking, excessive physical exercise, lack of rest, poor diet and sun exposure are factors that degrade hyaluronic acid and, in general, all medical aesthetic treatments.