It is a common misconception that Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are permanent. Today, most fillers on the market are HA based. While these fillers are perfect to enhance your facial features or softening deep set lines they are not a one time treatment. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance, often slippery in nature, that is produced by the human body and found in various areas such as the eyes, joints and skin. Since HA is already abundant in the body, this type of filler is low risk for being seen as a foreign substance and forming a nodule or becoming encapsulated under the skin.
The reason fillers slowly fade away is due to the natural metabolization by the body which is constantly turning over HA in the body. Fillers will stay around longer the more crosslinking is present between the HA molecules. Thicker fillers are FDA approved for up to 24 months while thinner products will last about a year. Although not permanent, HA fillers are enjoyed by millions of patients in the USA each year alone. Their characteristics make them perfect to produce a natural appearance, moldability, comfort, and the ability to add more at any time. HA fillers have been the workhorse of facial injections due to their safety profile and the ability to dissolve them with a product called hyaluronidase if the results are not what was desired.
