A new tear trough synthetic filler has few short-term adverse side effects and high patient satisfaction scores.
Tear troughs, depressions just below the eyes and above the cheeks, are a common target for cosmetic treatment. In this region, loss of muscle tone and elasticity associated with aging can cause the depressions to deepen, producing dark circles below the eyes. Synthetic filler can be injected into this area to firm up the appearance. Currently available fillers are often considered to be too permanent or not permanent enough, or are accompanied by adverse effects such as swelling and bruising.
A study in Orbit evaluated the safety, aesthetics, and patient satisfaction for a new gel filler specifically designed for injection around the eye. Injections of the filler were administeredto151 patients by 33 physicians, dermatologists, and surgeons. Patients were primarily middle-aged women (86% women, mean age: 48 years old). Most patients received one injection (average volume: 0.48 mL);18% received an additional touch-up injection. The use of topical anesthetic cream was not necessary for 79% of patients since the filler contains 0.3% lidocaine, a numbing agent. Most patients (112) returned for a follow-up evaluation within 1 month of the injection. At the follow-up visit, investigators assessed any adverse effects such as onset, severity, and duration of any swelling, bruising, redness, pain, and discoloration, as well as various aspects of skin quality: elasticity, hydration, skin quality, and radiance. In addition, both doctor and patient scored their perceived aesthetic improvement.
Adverse effects were reported in 25% of patients, which were mostly mild (78%), with fewer cases being moderate (17%), and severe (6%). Side effects following injection included bruising in 11%, swelling in 12%, redness in 12%, and blue discoloration in 2.6%. 90% of physicians and patients indicated an ‘exceptional improvement or very improved’ aesthetic, both immediately post-treatment and at the follow-up visit. The satisfaction rating of skin features increased following treatment: elasticity changed from 64% to 84%, hydration from 63% to 89%, skin quality from 59% to 75%, and skin radiance from 54% to 81%.Most patients were satisfied with the treatment;98% said they would recommend it to a friend, and 97% would consider receiving the treatment again.
The study reported lower rates of adverse side effects relative to other synthetic fillers, highlighting its effectiveness as a tear trough synthetic filler. This gel filler is unique in that it includes both cross-linked and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and has a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid (15 mg/mL). This formulation may result in less water absorption from surrounding tissue, resulting in less swelling.
Written By: Jeffrey Zeyl
