What are the Benefits of HA Fillers?
Over the last decade, dermal fillers have become a staple of medical skincare. These versatile injectable compounds can correct a wide range of cosmetic issues while also improving skin health. The secret to their effectiveness lies in their key ingredient: Hyaluronic acid (HA).
What is HA?
Hyaluronic acid is a safe, natural substance that’s found throughout the human body. Though the word “acid” suggests something caustic to most people, HA is inherently non-destructive. In fact, this carbohydrate polymer is one of the primary building blocks that make up our skin, cartilage, and other connective tissues. HA-based dermal fillers will not damage your skin or cause side-effects, and dermal filler treatments don’t require any downtime.
Understanding the Benefits of HA
When HA is injected into the skin, it stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin healthy, strong, and supple. This process is an important part of cellular repair; it combats environmental damage while working to improve skin texture and tone. HA gel can also literally “fill in” distracting blemishes and act as a facial contouring agent. Some of the primary benefits of HA-based dermal fillers are outlined below:
1. HA hydrates the skin.
HA is a humectant, meaning it has a powerful ability to pull in water molecules from the external environment. HA can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water.
As new collagen is synthesized, the water molecules attracted by HA are locked into the skin, becoming resistant to evaporation. HA-based fillers are therefore an excellent long-term treatment for chronically chapped lips and areas of rough, scaly skin.
2. Dermal fillers treat and prevent the signs of skin aging.
After age 30, the rate at which the body produces collagen declines by about one percent per year. Over time, this causes the skin to become thinner and more fragile. By age 40, most people notice lines and creases starting to form because their skin has become more susceptible to damage and less able to repair itself. By stimulating the production of collagen, HA can reverse some of these unwanted changes and restore the skin’s tensile strength, making it more resistant to future wrinkling.
HA’s thick gel-like consistency also provides an immediate volume boost in treated areas. Dermal fillers can therefore fill in deep creases and pockets of loose skin created by age-related facial fat loss. Dermal fillers are frequently used to fill in hollows around the eyes and cheeks; they can also restore the fullness of the lips.
3. Dermal fillers can reshape the face without surgery.
The volume-building properties of dermal fillers can do more than just fill in wrinkles and hollows: Fillers can also temporarily reshape the cheeks, nose, lips, and chin. People who want to avoid the discomfort and downtime associated with surgery can elect to have a non-surgical rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, or cheek augmentation performed solely with injectable fillers.
Learn More About Dermal Fillers
If you’re ready to experience the many advantages of dermal fillers, Dr. Florence Mussat will be happy to help you select the right filler treatment to meet your needs. To learn more about dermal fillers, contact Dr. Mussat online or by phone at: 312-751-9000.