Lidlift Kenneth D. Steinsapir, M.D.
Cosmetic, Facial & Eye Plastic Surgery

Hyaluronic Acid

This is a carbohydrate polymer or sugar gel that is found throughout the body and is a main component of the fluid in our joints. In the early 1970’s this material found use in intraocular surgery as a viscoelastic material used to cushion the inside of the cornea during intraocular surgery. This material is what made all of the recent advances in anterior segment and cataract surgery possible. This material only lasts a few hours in the body. By crosslinking the hyaluronic acid, it was possible to have a gel that persisted in the body much longer before being broken down. This became the basis for a treatment of osteoarthritis. Restylane®, Perlane®, and Juvederm® are all hyaluronic acid fillers that persist in the body for a year or more and have proven to be one of the most popular office based services for facial filling, replacing other fillers. In some cases, these services have proven to be a viable alternative to facial and eyelid surgery.