Rheological properties of cross-linked hyaluronic acid dermal fillers

Abstract

Aim: Hyaluronic acid (HA) based dermal fillers (DF) in recent years aroused big interest in the area of cosmetic surgery for the rejuvenation of the dermis. There is not a ideal dermal filler for all applications and in commerce there are many types of DF that differ for their chemical-physical properties. The aim of this paper is to correlate the rheological and physical properties of different DF to their clinical effectiveness. Matherials and Methods: In this frame the samples have been subjected to oscillation dynamic rheological and steady shear measurements. Results: Our results demonstrate that the viscoelastic properties of different DF varie strongly also considering fillers of the same family. Furthermore it was found that the materials physical properties influence significantly the performance of dermal filler. In particular the clinical data appear to correlate with the concentration of the polymer and with the product between the concentration and the percent elasticity, so these should be crucial parameters for the clinical performance of DF. Conclusion: Rheological data can be a tool to have an indication on the efficacy and longevity of DF but it has to be considered that production technology, in-vivo-conditions, injector skills and experience also influence them significantly.