Polycaprolactone facial volume restoration of a 46‐year‐old Asian women: A case report

A 46‐year‐old Asian women was treated with a next‐generation bioresorbable biostimulatory polycaprolactone (PCL)‐based dermal filler to restore facial volume loss. Before‐ and after (12 weeks of follow‐up)‐treatment photographs were analyzed and compared. In addition, before‐ and after‐treatment contour images were recorded using the Vectra^®XT 3D imaging system (Canfield Scientific, Inc.). Improvement of facial volume in multiple tissue layers was observed at 4 and 12 weeks of follow‐up. Total facial rejuvenation to correct descending soft tissue with a PCL‐based dermal filler was achieved through volume restoration in multiple tissue layers of the face.     

Neocollagenesis in human tissue injected with a polycaprolactone-based dermal filler

A novel dermal filler containing polycaprolactone (PCL) has been introduced into the aesthetic market. A recently published study has shown that the PCL-based dermal filler induces neocollagenesis, a process associated with improvement in appearance of the skin, in rabbit tissue. In this pilot study, we investigated whether the PCL-based dermal filler induces neocollagenesis in human tissue by histological analysis. Two patients who were enrolled in the study, and were willing to undergo temple lifting surgery, were injected intra-dermally with the PCL-based dermal filler. Thirteen months post-injection, biopsies were obtained for subsequent histological analysis. Histological analysis of tissue obtained from the biopsies (13 months post-injection) revealed that the PCL-based dermal filler shows collagen formation around the PCL particles and, therefore, supports similar findings previously shown in rabbit tissue. In conclusion, PCL particles are maintained in their original state 13 months post-injection.     

Comparative histometric analysis of the effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency on skin

Introduction: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radiofrequency (RF) are used for non-invasive skin tightening. Neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis have been reported to have a mechanism of controlled thermal injury. Objective: To compare neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis in each layer of the dermis after each session of HIFU and monopolar RF. Methods: We analyzed the area fraction of collagen and elastic fibers using the Masson's Trichrome and Victoria blue special stains, respectively, before and after 2 months of treatments. Histometric analyses were performed in each layer of the dermis, including the papillary dermis, and upper, mid, and deep reticular dermis. Results: Monopolar RF led to neocollagenesis in the papillary dermis, and upper, mid, and deep reticular dermis, and neoelastogenesis in the papillary dermis, and upper and mid reticular dermis. HIFU led to neocollagenesis in the mid and deep reticular dermis and neoelastogenesis in the deep reticular dermis. Among these treatment methods, HIFU showed the highest level of neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis in the deep reticular dermis. Conclusions: HIFU affects deep tissues and impacts focal regions. Monopolar RF also affects deep tissues, but impacts diffuse regions. We believe these data provide further insight into effective skin tightening.