If you’re here poking around Dr. Perron’s blog and website, you most likely have already heard of hyaluronic acid. You’ve also probably seen it on the ingredient list of lotions, soaps, cleansers, and other skin products.
But you’re really not sure what it does.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body (and in just about every other living thing, too). Hyaluronic acid is the basis of dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane that Dr. Perron uses with his patients. These fillers are designated as “naturally derived” because of the hyaluronic acid and its natural role in the body. In humans, it acts as a network that transfers essential nutrients from the bloodstream to the skin cells. Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin younger looking.
Hyaluronic acid 101
Hyaluronic acid can be found throughout the human body. High concentrations are found in soft connective tissues and in the fluid surrounding your eyes. It’s also in cartilage and joint fluids. Outside the world of aesthetics, you may have heard of hyaluronic acid being used as an injection for people with arthritis to ease the pain in their joints and to provide extra cushioning.
Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like water-holding molecule that is responsible for keeping our skin plump and hydrated. How does it do this? Hyaluronic acid can retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within the cells of the skin. No wonder everyone wants to say it is an ingredient in their moisturizers!
When hyaluronic acid gel is injected for aesthetic reasons, it acts like an inflated cushion supporting facial structures and tissues that may have lost volume or elasticity due to normal aging. For the skin, hyaluronic acid binds with nearby water molecules to firm and hydrate the skin. And we all want firm, hydrated, plump skin, as that is a tenet of young-looking skin.
Where does Dr. Perron use fillers?
Dr. Perron uses Juvederm and Restylane for different areas of the face to reduce wrinkles and on areas such as the cheeks where volume has decreased. These are some specific issues he addresses with these fillers:
- Nasolabial lines
- Marionette lines
- Parentheses lines
- Barcode lines
- Acne scars
- Cheek depressions
- Redefining lip borders
- Adding lip volume
After your filler session
Most of our dermal filler sessions take 30 minutes or less. After your session, it’s important to not touch or push on the injection areas for 24 hours or so. This can cause the filler to migrate to an area where you don’t want it. Because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, allergic reactions are very rare. Otherwise, the injection sites may become slightly red, swollen, and have some very minor bruising, but this should pass in a day or two.
Are you ready to put the power of hyaluronic acid to work for your skin? Call Dr. Perron at (403) 228-7076 to make an appointment.
