Question: I know that Juvederm is made of hyaluronic acid. What is its purpose in the natural world and how does that relate to cosmetic treatments?
Answer: Hyaluronic acid is a hydrophilic molecule, which means that it surrounds itself with a large amount of water almost like a sponge and it plays a role in that it is present around the cells that are the living portion of our tissue and as the majority of what is called the extracellular matrix. This is found in all mammals and Juvederm is simply a synthesized form of hyaluronic acid that they then add what are called cross-links, which are very small molecules that link these chains across themselves so that they are more difficult to be broken down by the body and thus the hyaluronic acid will last much longer than if they did not have these cross-links. The result is a clear gel-like material that can be injected and in most people lasts somewhere between 6 and 12 months, though in a handful or people it can last much longer than that. Overall, Juvederm is extremely safe and reliable as a filler agent.
