Dr. Ahn Hyosang of D-Lounge Dermatology specializes in anti-aging, minimally invasive procedures, pigmented lesions, acne and hair loss treatments. Drawing from his long clinical experience, he will share with the readers of D&PS his special techniques and case studies. The first series focuses on the hyaluronic acid(HA) injections, also known in Korea as “Water Glow Injection”. It will include three articles covering case studies, types of HA products used in this procedure, combination therapies and injectors. We hope our readers can benefit from Dr. Ahn’s valuable advice on treatment techniques.

 

Hyaluronic acid(HA) consists of extracellular matrix, an intercellular component that is found in the connective tissues, epithelium, and nerve tissues. HA is an important component of the skin and 50% of HA in the human body is found in the skin. Its concentration level is about 0.5mg/ml in the dermis and 2~4mg/ml in the epidermis. HA is mostly synthesized by dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes. In a male adult weighing about 70kg, HA takes up 15g, a third of which is constantly newly generated. Clinical use of HA has excellent aesthetic results with improved skin elasticity, skin firmness, and smoothness as well as reduction of transepidermal water loss(TEWL).

 

The reason for the supple and smooth texture of a baby’s skin is the high HA content. Throughout adolescence and adulthood, the skin’s HA content is maintained at around 0.330% but it drastically declines to 0.015% after the age of 50 and to 0.007%, after 70.

 

Figure 1. Front view of the face before and after Water Gloss Injection .

 

As mentioned already, the continuous decline of the HA content is at the core of skin aging. Therefore, anti-aging treatments should start with replenishing HA. One of the most popular methods of replenishing HA in Korea is a procedure that goes by the nickname of Water Gloss Injection. It is also called hydro-lifting. HA can be injected into the dermis in the following methods:

1.     Manual injection using an insulin syringe

2.     Using an injector such as Derma Shine Balance, and Vital Injector, etc.  

3.     Fanning technique using a micro-cannula

4.     Using low frequency & high frequency ultrasound

I use injectors described in Number 2 due to the excellent precision of injection depth and dosage, shorter treatment duration, and better collagen remodeling effect through mechanical stimulation.

 

In this series devoted to the Water Gloss Injection, we will take a closer look at the procedure over three articles. The first will feature different cases I have treated using HA injection at my practice.

 

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The second article will introduce various HA products suitable for this procedure and treatments that can be combined to boost the benefit of HA injection such as botulinum toxin, PDRN, PN, PRP and collagen. The third article will feature advantages and disadvantages of Vital Injector and Derma Shine Balance, two of the most commonly used injectors for HA injection.

 

-To be continued