Question: What exactly is hyaluronic acid and how does that compare to Botox? I am considering some face touchups and want to explore all of my options.
Answer: Hyaluronic acid is a chemical that is composed of sugar molecules all linked together thousands of times in a chain. These chains are then linked across themselves so that they last longer in the human body. This is a natural substance that is found in our bodies and it is located between all of the cells in our tissue. Botox is a neuromodulator which means that it binds to nerve endings and prevents the nerve from making the muscle contract. This allows the muscle to relax and the wrinkles that are caused by the muscle motion are then improved. These two products are very different in that one treats dynamic lines or lines due to muscle motion and that would be the Botox situation whereas one treats lines that are static or lines that are there all the time which are typically in the lower face and this is where hyaluronic acid fillers would be useful. Ultimately I always recommend the patients see a board certified facial plastic surgeon who is experienced in comprehensive approaches to facial rejuvenation so that combination treatment such as Botox fillers and other procedures or techniques can be employed to give the patient the best result possible.
