Hyaluronic acid is a type of sugar found naturally in different body tissues, including joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid helps in the hydration and repair of tissues, joint lubrication, and immune response.
In recent times, hyaluronic acid filler has become quite popular in the beauty community due to its numerous positive benefits. It’s used as a soft tissue filler that can help fight aging issues like wrinkles and furrows and give you a youthful glow.
Non-hyaluronic acid fillers, on the other hand, as the name suggests, do not contain hyaluronic acid. There are so many varieties in the non-hyaluronic acid filler category. Out of them- poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), calcium hydroxylapatite acid (CAHA), collagen, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are to name a few.
These non-hyaluronic acid fillers are considered a cost-effective alternative to dermal fillers. They give visible results from the first session itself and last for a period of almost two years.
How do both hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers work?
Now that you know the distinction between both the filler types, let’s see how these two variants work.
Hyaluronic acid fillers
It is known to hold moisture, and it can bind its volume up to 1000 times in water. Therefore, it can retain moisture in your skin, add hydration, and enhance volumization.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are injected into your skin through a needle. It helps to smoothen your wrinkles, fill in the sunken skin, work on the fine lines, and add plumpness into the skin. You can see the effect of hyaluronic acid fillers immediately after the treatment.
Non-hyaluronic acid fillers
Non-hyaluronic acid fillers like calcium hydroxylapatite acid (CAHA) work to fight facial wrinkles, rejuvenate the back of your hands and add volume to your skin, especially in the cheeks and jawline.
Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) fillers help stimulate the body to produce natural collagen in the injected area, which adds volume to the skin. PLLA is also sometimes used to treat cellulite areas, facial wrinkles, marionette lines, etc.
PMMA or polymethylmethacrylate, this non-hyaluronic acid filler, on the other hand, is used to treat depressed acne scars and smile lines. PMMA helps in stimulating collagen production in the body.
How long do hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers last?
Hyaluronic acid fillers last for about twelve to eighteen months if you use them to fill lines, wrinkles, or depression on the face.
Hyaluronic fillers used for lip augmentation last up to six to eight months. On the other hand, if you use it for jawline sculpting or cheek augmentation, the effects will last up to twenty-four months.
Experts recommend that you should get your repeat treatment one or two months before the previous treatment ends. For example, if the filler’s lifespan is 12 months, you should get the repeat treatment in the tenth or eleventh month. Non-hyaluronic acid fillers come with different life spans based on their type-
- Poly- L- Lactic (PLLA) acid fillers last up to two years
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CAHA) lasts for about twelve to eighteen months
- Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lasts for almost five years, and it is considered a semi-permanent filler
How much do hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers cost?
Hyaluronic acid fillers generally come in syringes or vials of 1ml, and they are roughly priced between $600 to $1000. The final cost is based on the number of vials or syringes required to treat particular areas.
For the nose and lips, mostly one or two syringes are enough. But for cheek augmentation, at least two to four syringes are a must. Therefore, for the lips and nose, you can expect to spend anywhere around $800 to $1600. For cheek augmentation, the cost may go up to $2000. Now let’s check the cost of non-hyaluronic acid fillers by their type-
- CAHA comes in syringes of 0.8cc to 1.5cc. These cost between $600 to $1000. Most people typically need two vials of CAHA, so you can expect to spend around $1500 for CAHA fillers.
- PMMA costs $1000 per vial. For minor treatments, two syringes are enough, but if major corrections are needed, you will need eight or more vials.
- PLLA costs $900 to $1000 per vial. Typically two syringes can do the job for you.
These are the average cost of both hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers. The prices can vary based on additional factors like geographical location, the reputation of the medspa or the dermatologist, areas to be treated, etc. Spas like Anand medical spa in Manhattan offer both hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers and are a safe place to get these fillers done.
Side effects of hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic acid fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers are very safe and don’t have any major side effects. You may experience slight itching, redness, rash, and mild swelling, which fades away after some time.
However, in certain cases, people might experience major side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers which require treatment. These are very rare, but symptoms include- nodules, infections, filler migration, blood vessel injury.
Non-hyaluronic fillers, too, are quite safe when taken from experienced dermatologists. Like hyaluronic acid fillers, you may experience mild side effects like- slight discomfort, swelling, itching, redness, rash, mild bleeding from the injected area.
Major side effects include- damage of tissues, infections, nodules or lumps under the skin, filler migration, injection into blood vessels, which potentially can cause blindness. These radical side effects are very rare and can occur only when the filler is taken from an inexperienced dermatologist or uncertified spa.
Conclusion
Both hyaluronic and non-hyaluronic fillers are effective treatment options to add volume to your skin and treat wrinkles and fine lines. Both these treatments, however, are not permanent solutions and require repeated sessions. If you decide to go for either of these fillers, make sure to go to an experienced and certified dermatologist.
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