A new nonhydrophilic agarose gel as subdermal filler for facial rejuvenation: Aesthetic results and patient satisfaction.

Abstract

A wide range of fillers are already available for facial rejuvenation. Most of them are based on the use of reticulated or nonreticulated hyaluronic acid. The main objective of this study is to present the advantages, efficacy, and safety profile of a new agarose gel filler without reticulating agents, for different facial areas. A total of 41 patients were treated with different concentrations of the agarose gel filler (1%; 1,5%; 2,5% and 3,5%). Mean age of the participants was 44.62years. 67.7% (31/41) of the patients were female. Typically, each anatomic area was injected with half of the syringe volume (0.7+0.1mL of lidocaine 2%) per side. One week after one-session treatment, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was obtained and satisfaction surveys were filled by patients. Clinical improvement was noted immediately, with no progressive volume gain over following days. In the GAIS, 90% of the cases scored as "significant or great improvement." Patient satisfaction was very high with 83% of them evaluating the results as 8 or higher in a scale 1-10. Only one late-onset nodule was observed some weeks after injection, that resolved completely with corticosteroid injection. This new agarose gel filler represents an effective and safe alternative for facial rejuvenation with fillers. Among its advantages, it can be highlighted the absence of reticulating agents and its nonhydrophilic nature.