Schedule Your Dermal Filler Appointment at It’s Me and You Clinic with Dr. Laura Geige
The Breakdown Process
Types of Fillers
When a dermal filler designed to dissolve is administered to the skin, it breaks down naturally over time through the body’s enzymatic processes.
This breakdown process, also known as metabolism, involves several stages.
First, the injected filler particles interact with enzymes like hyaluronidase, which are naturally present in the body.
Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid fillers (the most common type) into smaller molecules called disaccharides and then monosaccharides.
These smaller molecules are then absorbed by surrounding cells, transported through the lymphatic system, and eventually eliminated from the body through urine or sweat.
The rate at which a filler dissolves depends on several factors, including:
• The specific type of filler used
• The amount injected
• Individual metabolism rates
• The depth of injection
For instance, injectable fillers made with hyaluronic acid are designed to gradually dissolve over several months to years.
There are various types of fillers used for cosmetic purposes:
- **Hyaluronic Acid Fillers:** The most common type, they are naturally found in the body and provide a volumizing effect. These are reversible with hyaluronidase.
- **Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA):** A semi-permanent filler that stimulates collagen production and can last for several years.
- **Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA):** Another semi-permanent option that stimulates collagen production, gradually dissolving over time.
- **Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Microspheres:** These are long-lasting, permanent fillers.
It’s important to consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the best type of filler for your individual needs and goals.
They can also provide guidance on post-treatment care and expected results.
Reserve a Dermal Filler Session with Dr. Laura Geige Now
Enzymatic Degradation
When dermal fillers dissolve, they don’t simply disappear into thin air. Instead, they undergo a process called enzymatic degradation, where specific enzymes in the body break down the filler material into smaller, harmless components that can be naturally eliminated.
Fillers typically contain hyaluronic acid (HA) or other biodegradable polymers. These materials are designed to attract and hold water, giving the skin a plumper, smoother appearance.
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme naturally present in the body that plays a crucial role in breaking down HA. When injected into the skin alongside filler, hyaluronidase speeds up the dissolution process.
The enzymatic degradation process begins with hyaluronidase cleaving the long HA chains into smaller fragments.
These smaller fragments are then further broken down by other enzymes, ultimately leading to their complete breakdown into simple molecules like glucose and glucuronic acid.
These basic building blocks can be easily absorbed by the body and eliminated through normal metabolic processes. Essentially, the filler material is recycled and repurposed by the body, leaving no permanent traces behind.
Book Your Dermal Filler Consultation with Dr. Laura Geige Today
Absorption and Excretion
Journey Through the Body
When a substance like filler dissolves within the body, its journey typically involves two key processes: *absorption* and *excretion*. Understanding these processes is crucial to comprehending what happens to any material, whether it’s intended as a medical treatment or a byproduct of everyday life.
Imagine a small particle of filler entering your bloodstream. This is the beginning of its **absorption** journey. Blood vessels act like intricate highways, carrying the dissolved particles throughout your body. These tiny fragments can travel to various organs, including the liver and kidneys, which are responsible for filtering and processing waste products.
The *liver* plays a central role in breaking down and modifying substances absorbed from the bloodstream. It can transform some filler components into less harmful forms or prepare them for elimination.
From there, filtered blood flows to the *kidneys*. These remarkable organs act like sophisticated sieves, selectively removing waste products, including broken-down filler particles, from the blood. The kidneys concentrate these waste materials into a concentrated fluid called *urine*.
Finally, the **excretion** process begins as urine travels from the kidneys through tubes called ureters to the bladder for storage. When the bladder is full, you urinate, expelling the urine containing the remnants of the dissolved filler from your body.
The specific journey and eventual fate of a dissolved filler can vary depending on its chemical composition, the amount absorbed, and individual factors like age, health, and metabolism.
Waste Removal Mechanisms
When substances dissolve in water, they don’t simply disappear; their molecules become dispersed evenly throughout the water. This process doesn’t involve a single location for the dissolved matter to “go.” Instead, it’s about a change in the substance’s physical state and its distribution.
In the context of food fillers dissolving, understanding absorption and excretion is crucial. Fillers are often indigestible substances added to foods for texture, bulk, or other purposes.
Absorption refers to the process by which the body takes in nutrients and other substances from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
Excretion is the process of removing waste products from the body.
Since fillers are usually indigestible, they don’t provide nutritional value and thus aren’t absorbed by the body. Instead, they travel through the digestive system largely intact.
The undigested filler particles are eventually eliminated from the body through feces (stool).
The large intestine plays a primary role in this process by absorbing water from the remaining waste material, solidifying it into stool for expulsion.
K’s P Rules Cakes K’s P Rules Cakes Elizabeth Rohrbaugh My Better Love
