We all have heard the word “Hyaluronic Acid” at least once before, surely! Especially when it comes to the realm of beauty, skincare, and aesthetic treatments. But really, what does it do, and what is the role of hyaluronic acid in aesthetic treatments?
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Before we discuss the benefits of hyaluronic acid treatments, let’s first understand what hyaluronic acid (HA) is. Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar molecule that is found naturally in the body. It is a key component of connective tissue, skin, and synovial fluid, and it plays an important role in maintaining the health and hydration of these tissues. Hyaluronic acid is known for its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes it an excellent hydrator for the skin.
Each HA molecule is extremely tiny and is almost liquid-like. Naturally, they occur in chains meaning multiple molecules are joined together. This gives them the ability to form a more gel-like consistency to hold shape or give volume.
HA preparations available for aesthetic indications range from short-chained and un-crosslinked to longer-chained and crosslinked gels. In general the shorter the chains, and the less viscous the more liquid the product. Whereas longer chained and highly-modified or crosslinked products tend to be firmer.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
1. Restoring Volume and Enhancing Contours
One of the primary benefits of hyaluronic acid treatments is that they can restore volume and enhance contours in the face. As we age, we naturally lose volume in our face, which can lead to a sunken or hollow appearance. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected into the skin to restore volume and enhance contours, giving the face a more youthful, refreshed appearance.
Many dermal fillers in use these days are made of HA. The exceptions are some bio-stimulators and autologous grafts. HA makes for an excellent filler material because of its high safety profile.
There are multiple techniques for injecting HA-based dermal fillers, and when used artfully, they can improve facial volume to reduce sagginess, droopiness, or even enhance facial features such the nose, chin and jawline.
HA fillers are a non-surgical and minimally invasive alternative to more invasive cosmetic procedures such as facelifts. They can be performed in-clinic, and most individuals can return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure.
Safety is high with HA fillers as they can be fully dissolved. This is good news for many who do not want such a permanent change in the face as well.
Another benefit of hyaluronic acid fillers is that the results are usually rather long-lasting. While the exact duration of the results will depend on the specific filler used and the individual’s metabolism, most HA fillers last anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
2. Reducing the Appearance of Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Hyaluronic acid fillers can also be used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in the skin. The fillers are injected into the skin to plump up the area and smooth out wrinkles and fine lines. The result is smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
For this application, HA is typically injected in the more superficial layers of the skin to fill up small wrinkles and fine lines.
3. Hydrating and Moisturising the Skin
Hyaluronic acid is an excellent hydrator for the skin, and hyaluronic acid skin boosters can help to hydrate and moisturize the skin from within. This can leave the skin looking and feeling more plump, supple, and well-nourished.
The degree of hydration and duration of action depends on the nature of the particular HA preparation used. For example, short chain HA can be placed in the superficial dermal layer, whereas longer or mixed-chain HA should be placed slightly deeper in the deep dermis where they tend to have a slightly longer lasting multi-layer effect.
Some notice that they end up using hydrating masks or having to do hydrating treatments so frequently after using a deep hydrating injected HA treatment – perhaps attesting to the capability of injected HA treatments.
In Conclusion
HA treatments have become increasingly popular in the world of aesthetics, and for good reason! These treatments offer a range of benefits, including restoring volume and enhancing contours, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, hydrating and moisturising the skin, offering long-lasting results, and being non-surgical and minimally invasive.
Now that you know the role of hyaluronic acid in aesthetic treatments, you can click here, if you would to consult a doctor about whether HA treatments are suitable for you. You can also click here to browse what kind of HA facials you can try out for yourself! Happy glowing!