Hyaluronic acid fillers and topical skincare products have become quite popular in recent years. But before you start your search for “hyaluronic acid fillers near me,” it’s a good idea to learn more about what this ingredient is and how it works to plump your skin and impart a youthful glow.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring non-sulfate glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which is a type of sugar that is found throughout your body. One of its primary functions is to draw in and bind to water molecules. In fact, HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water! This function classifies HA as a humectant — an ingredient that retains moisture.
What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do for Skin?
So how does this ability to bind to large amounts of water help your skin? When injected, hyaluronic acid fillers create a plumping effect, adding volume to areas like your cheeks and lips. And because of its ability to hold onto water, HA can also add a dewy glow to your skin.
A typical injectable filler appointment takes less than 30 minutes, and there’s virtually no downtime afterward.
Hyaluronic acid injections also have the ability to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, as well as pitted acne scars by “filling in” those indentations in your skin.
Most hyaluronic acid fillers can last for around 6 to 18 months, depending on the exact filler used. Over that period of time, the HA will gradually break down and be naturally expelled by your body.
Who’s a Good Candidate for HA Fillers?
Just about anyone who is in good general health and is looking for a natural-looking boost of volume or a smoother, more even skin texture could be a good candidate for hyaluronic acid fillers.
One of the many benefits of going with an HA filler is that this ingredient can be dissolved before it breaks down on its own if you’re unhappy with your results for any reason. Other types of fillers and injectable toxins cannot. This quality makes hyaluronic acid a popular choice, especially among those who have never tried filler before.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers vs. Topical HA
Many people often ask, “Will I get the same results with a topical hyaluronic acid product as from HA fillers?” The short answer is no, you won’t see the same dramatic and long-lasting plumping effect with a topical formulation as with dermal fillers.
However, you can see a noticeable glow and temporary plumping with properly formulated hyaluronic acid topicals, thanks to the ingredient’s moisture retention trick. There is one major caveat to using topical humectants like HA on your skin, though.
Humectants work by drawing in moisture from their environment. In humid climates, these ingredients will have no problem pulling in water from the air around your skin, adding that moisture to your skin. But in dry climates, humectants can pull water out of your skin if there is none available in the air around you. For this reason, topical HA alone is not always the most effective moisturizing product.
Waleed Ezzat, M.D., F.A.C.S. is double board-certified in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery. He operates under the philosophy that natural beauty is the best kind of beauty. Dr. Ezzat addresses each aesthetic or reconstructive challenge by considering the whole facial anatomy rather than focusing on one isolated area. This comprehensive approach maintains a goal of fully functional and natural-looking results that fit perfectly within each individual’s unique genetic makeup.
