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Choosing the Best Option: Hyaluronic Acid Fillers vs. Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Author: Chelsea Perkins
hyaluronic acid fillers vs non hyaluronic acid fillers

Looking for a non-surgical way to turn back the clock? Dermal fillers have become a popular choice for achieving a more youthful appearance. These injectable fillers, used by over 1 million annually, offer a cost-effective alternative to surgery and require minimal downtime. Whether you want to soften wrinkles, restore lost volume in your cheeks or lips, or enhance facial contours, dermal fillers can provide significant results.

There are two main categories: hyaluronic acid and non-hyaluronic acid fillers. Each type offers unique benefits and is suited to different cosmetic needs. This blog post will explore the world of dermal fillers and examine their effects.

Enhance your aesthetic practice with our extensive selection of brand-name dermal fillers at affordable prices. Licensed healthcare providers can purchase conveniently here. Dermal fillers are for professional use only!

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Popular brands: Juvederm, Restylane and Belotero.

Filler material: Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, primarily found in connective tissues and the skin. This natural substance maintains skin hydration and elasticity. HA dermal fillers leverage this property, using a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid to achieve aesthetic improvements.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) products are outstanding injectable dermal fillers due to their versatility, safety, and efficacy. These gel-like substances are injected beneath the skin to replenish volume loss, reduce facial wrinkles, and create a youthful look.

Applications: soft tissue fillers, wrinkle fillers, acne scars, volume restoration, facial contouring.

Key benefits:

  • natural and biocompatible: because HA is already present in your body, it boasts a high safety profile with a minimal risk of allergic reactions compared to some non-HA fillers.
  • reversible results: HA dermal fillers can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This provides peace of mind if you’re concerned about the outcome or experienced any severe side effects.
  • more natural appearance: HA injectable fillers integrate seamlessly with the body’s tissues, offering a harmonious look after the injection process.
  • versatility: injectable hyaluronic acid fillers can address various concerns, including nasolabial folds, marionette lines, vertical lip lines, fine lines and wrinkles, and reduced volume in areas such as the cheeks and lips. They are also effective for tear troughs and enhancing thin lips.
  • safety and approval: FDA-approved dermal fillers with HA are used for multiple cosmetic procedures. They have been tested rigorously before approval. The injection procedure typically involves minimal discomfort and does not require skin testing beforehand.

Duration of results: HA injectable filler is gradually broken down by the body, so results typically last 6 to 12 months. Touch-up treatments may be necessary to maintain your desired effect.

Potential side effects: Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are generally well-tolerated. However, some side effects may include swelling, bruising, redness, nodule formation, or granuloma formation. Most patients experience minimal downtime and can return to normal activities shortly after the procedure.

Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Non-HA fillers utilize materials other than hyaluronic acid to achieve similar goals during aesthetic procedures. They come in various forms: calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and even your own fat (fat transfer). Here’s a closer look at these types:

Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)

Popular brand: Radiesse

Filler material: CaHA is a biocompatible and naturally occurring substance in human bones. It is suspended in a gel-like carrier for use in dermal filler products. This material is known for its high viscosity and excellent rheological properties.

Applications: severe facial wrinkles like nasolabial folds, marionette lines, vertical lines, and other skin folds. It can be used for volumizing cheeks and temples.

Key benefits: CaHA stimulates natural collagen production, providing immediate volume and long-term improvement in skin texture.

Duration of results: These dermal fillers are known for their impressive longevity, lasting from 18 to 24 months.

Side effects: They include temporary swelling, bruising, and redness at the injection site. There is a low risk of other adverse events such as nodules and lumps.

Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)

Popular brand: Sculptra

Filler material: PLLA is a synthetic polymer created through a bacterial fermentation process. It’s biocompatible, meaning your body can tolerate it well.

Applications: deep smile lines, volume restoration, improvement of facial contours, acne scars.

Key benefits: Unlike hyaluronic dermal fillers, PLLA fillers take time to show their full effects as your body produces more collagen. It may take several weeks or months to see the optimal results, but these fillers are long-lasting due to stimulated collagen production.

Duration of results: The effect can last up to two years, with periodic follow-up sessions.

Side effects may include injection site reactions like redness, tenderness, swelling, and bruising. Rarely, granuloma formation and other adverse reactions can occur.

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

Popular brand: Bellafill

PMMA is a synthetic material with a long history of safe use in medical devices. It comes in small microspheres that are injected into the desired treatment area. These microspheres act as a scaffold. It provides immediate volume restoration and smooths out wrinkles and folds.

Applications: deep wrinkles and folds, severe hollow areas, nasolabial fold.

Key benefits and result’s duration: PMMA fillers boast the longest-lasting results among dermal fillers, potentially lasting several years or even a lifetime.

Important considerations:

  • PMMA is not easily reversible. Removing them can be challenging and may require surgery, potentially leaving scars.
  • Due to their permanent nature, PMMA fillers carry a higher risk of complications than other dermal fillers.

Fat Transfer

The medical procedure involves harvesting fat from areas of the body where it is plentiful, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks, and then purifying and injecting it into areas that need volume enhancement.

Applications: volumizing cheeks, lips, and under-eye areas, deep nasolabial folds, and marionette lines.

Key benefits: The use of autologous fat eliminates the risk of allergic reactions or rejection. This medical procedure has a dual effect: improved volume of the treatment site and contoured donor site, where fat is removed.

Duration of results: The longevity of fat transfer results can vary. The body will absorb some injected fat. A significant portion typically integrates with the tissues and stays in place permanently. Results can last for several years.

Side effects: temporary redness, swelling, bruising at the treatment site, fat reabsorption, and asymmetry.

Hyaluronic Acid Filler vs. Non-Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Which Is Better?

Both HA fillers and non-HA acid fillers aim to address wrinkles, lost volume, and contour deficiencies, providing a more youthful and refreshed appearance. The dermal filler procedures are similar, using fine needles and cannulas to deliver the filler. Both types include FDA-approved fillers. They all have undergone rigorous clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy.

Moreover, both filler types have almost similar contraindications. They may include:

  • human immunodeficiency virus;
  • bleeding disorders and taking blood thinners to reduce clots in the blood vessels;
  • active skin infections;
  • uncontrolled diabetes;
  • certain type of cancer;
  • damaged skin or blood vessel at the targeted area;
  • pregnancy and breastfeeding;
  • severe allergies to dermal filler components.

HA and non-hyaluronic dermal fillers differ in main active ingredient, manufacturing process, mechanism of action, and results duration. Non-HA fillers are mostly non-reversible. Patients, who have injected them, may have slightly longer recovery time after the treatment sessions. Additionally, non-HA fillers may provoke more swelling and bruising.

The optimal filler choices depend on your aesthetic goals, desired longevity of results, and tolerance for downtime and potential side effects.

Conclusion

Dermal fillers are a popular and effective treatment for facial rejuvenation, but they are not suitable for everyone. A competent healthcare professional can help patients evaluate their suitability for the procedure, taking into account their medical history, present health status, and specific aesthetic goals.

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