Energy-Based HA Filler Degradation Varies by Laser Wavelength
Key Takeaways
- Hyaluronidase produced the greatest degradation of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA), reaching approximately 88% soluble HA by day 2.
- Among the energy-based treatments studied, only long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser irradiation produced degradation comparable to hyaluronidase at the initial assessment.
- The ex vivo physicochemical study does not establish the clinical efficacy or safety of using Nd:YAG laser treatment to degrade HA filler in patients.
Cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) exposed to long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd laser irradiation showed substantial degradation in an ex vivo model, whereas microfocused ultrasound and other tested laser wavelengths produced comparatively little soluble HA, according to a study published in Polymers.
Nd Laser Compared With Hyaluronidase for HA Filler Degradation
Researchers evaluated degradation using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Structural analysis indicated retention of the HA backbone with partial loss of the cross-linked network, while thermal stability decreased according to treatment.
HPLC showed that hyaluronidase released 58.2 ± 2.9% soluble HA on day 1 and reached a plateau of approximately 88% by day 2. Among energy-based modalities, the 1064-nm Nd laser produced 57.3 ± 5.2% degradation. Microfocused ultrasound, diode laser, and alexandrite laser treatments released only 3.2% to 5.3% soluble HA.
The authors noted that the wavelength-dependent effect was consistent with water-mediated photothermal cleavage of HA chains.
“These findings identify long-pulsed 1064 nm irradiation as an effective non-enzymatic route to degrade the cross-linked hyaluronic acid macromolecule, with hyaluronidase remaining the reference standard,” the authors concluded.
Source
Deda A, et al. Polymers. 2026. Doi:10.3390/polym18172077