Hyaluronic acid: what it is in orofacial harmonization

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide found naturally in the skin, joints and connective tissue, where it retains water and provides support. In orofacial harmonization it is used as an injectable gel, produced by bacterial fermentation and stabilized to last months in the tissue instead of days.

This stabilization is done through cross-linking, which bonds the polymer chains to each other. The degree of cross-linking, the concentration and the particle size define how the gel behaves: firmer products, with a high G prime, are suited to projecting structures such as the cheekbone and chin; softer, more fluid products adapt better to the lips and thin-skinned areas.

What is hyaluronic acid used for in orofacial harmonization (HOF)?

The most common indications are volume replacement, contouring and softening of folds: the lips, the malar area, chin, jawline, temples, tear trough and the nasolabial fold (smile lines). The choice of product, plan and volume is the decision of the qualified professional, after assessment.

One feature that sets HA apart from other dermal fillers is reversibility: hyaluronidase breaks the gel down. That is why anyone working with HA should have the enzyme available in the clinic. Possible complications include swelling, bruising, nodules, the Tyndall effect and, more rarely, vascular occlusion.

In Harmy

Harmy's planning records the HA volume per area in ml, from 0.5 to 5 ml in steps of 0.5. The generated projection takes that volume into account: the more ml, the more noticeable the change in the marked area.

Also known as: HA, hyaluronic, hyaluronic acid filler, filler.