Hyaluronic acid - What's the source? Is it made by chemical process or obtained from animals?
Is it made by chemical process or obtained from animals? I would like to know how the substance is obtained and how safe it is to inject into the face.
Answers (1)
How Hyaluronic Acid is made.... it comes from bacteria or birds
Some brands of Hyaluronic Acid are made out of rooster combs (Hyalgan). Other brands are made from a bacteria called Streptococcus equi bacteria (Juvederm). Both are very pure. Neither are very likely to cause any allergic reaction. Both are very safe. Juvederm tends to last longer so I don't use much Hyalgan anymore.
I have NEVER seen an allergic reaction to Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane or Hyalgan. I have read about only 1 single case of an allergic reaction, which got better with treatment. Overall, I think these products are safe for injection into the face, especially into the smile lines (the nasolabial folds). Other sites are a bit riskier, but an experienced injector should be able to provide very safe facial injections with any of these products.
7/22/08
I thought Hyalgan is only to be used as a viscosupplent. Did you use it off-label for cosmetic purposes?