Cosmetic Surgery Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cosmetic Surgery, including details on microsurgery, reconstruction, techniques, risks.

Hyaluronic acid: the scientific and clinical evidence.

Price RD, Berry MG, Navsaria HA

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Cutaneous Research, Bart's and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring biopolymer whose molecular structure is highly conserved between mammalian species. First described in 1934, it has since been used across a wide variety of medical fields as diverse as neurosurgery and cutaneous wound healing. Presently it has reached prominence in cosmetic practice where it is now the injectable dermal filler of choice for most surgeons. We used our experience of this technology with searches in the English language literature for the purpose of a systematic review. We present an overview, including the scientific evidence for its use in wound healing and, briefly, in other fields. We summarise the evidence for and against hyaluronic acid and provide a resumé of the current technologies available in fields such as skin regeneration and wound healing, in addition to cosmetic surgery. This overview is not intended to teach the reader about the various formulations currently on the market or how to use these materials clinically - rather to provide a solid scientific background enabling the reader to understand the attributes (and otherwise) of the material. We hope to allow clinicians to assess the evidence for a material now in common use in order that they may be fully aware of its properties.

Published 30 April 2007 in J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Cosmetic Surgery Research Today. All Rights Reserved.