Hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid are two types of products used in aesthetic medicine procedures to improve the appearance of the skin and its structures, although they differ in their composition, application, duration and results.
Composition
Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally in the human body, in places such as the skin, joints and other body tissues. It has a great capacity to retain water and helps to keep the skin hydrated and plump.
Polylactic acid is a biocompatible and biodegradable substance used to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin, a protein naturally present in our body that provides firmness, elasticity and structure to the skin. This substance acts as a scaffold for fibroblasts (cells that produce new collagen) to increase collagen production. With ageing and other factors, this decreases, leading to loss of volume, wrinkles and sagging skin.
Application
Both hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid are injected under the skin with a needle or cannula.
Hyaluronic acid is mainly used to fill fine lines, wrinkles, folds or to increase volume and define areas such as the cheekbones, cheeks and lips.
Polylactic acid is mainly used to treat sagging, loss of volume and structure of the skin on the face; signs caused by the passage of time.
Duration and results
Hyaluronic acid is temporary and gradually degrades in the body over time. Generally, its effects last between 6 and 18 months, depending on the type of product, the concentration of the product and the injection technique, as well as the areas where it is applied.
For example, areas such as the lips, which are in constant movement, tend to break down more of the acid than less active areas such as the cheeks, although approximately 20-30% remains.
The effects of polylactic acid can last from 1 to 2 years, even longer in some cases as the collagen produced by the stimulation of collagen-producing cells can persist for a prolonged period. It is important to bear in mind that its results are more gradual than those of hyaluronic acid, but also lead to more natural results as they can never change the patient’s features.
In summary, while hyaluronic acid offers immediate and temporary results that can last from 6 to 18 months, polylactic acid provides results that can last from 1 to 2 years thanks to its ability to continue to stimulate collagen production. With polylactic acid we will achieve natural results without changing the features of the person, tightening the skin, and restoring the structure lost by the passage of time; while with hyaluronic acid we can offer results in which we can change volumes in different areas of the face.
