Abstract
The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers has become increasingly widespread in facial recontouring and rejuvenation. We report our experiences to emphasize the role of HA fillers as tools beyond aesthetic treatments in cases of post-surgical facial sequelae. HA fillers are generally used for aesthetic rejuvenation, but one potential new horizon could be their application in trauma, reconstructive, and craniofacial surgery. This study was conducted retrospectively, evaluating medical reports of patients treated at the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, for lip incompetence, trauma, oncological, reconstructive, and craniosynostosis surgery sequelae. Visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation was performed to assess patient satisfaction. No major complications (i.e., impending necrosis or visual loss) were reported. Bruising and swelling was reported for 48 h after lip injection. At the immediate VAS evaluation, 67% of the patients were “extremely satisfied” and 33% “satisfied”. In those 33%, VAS scores changed to “extremely satisfied” at 6–9 weeks and 3–6 months of VAS evaluation (contextually to improvement in tissue flexibility, elasticity, and aesthetic appearance). Results indicate that this minimally invasive approach achieves a high level of aesthetic enhancement, improving patient satisfaction. The concept of HA filler applications could be a frontier that may be applicable to other areas of reconstructive facial plastic surgery.
Highlights
The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers has become increasingly widespread in facial recontouring and rejuvenation, with significant relevance in plastic surgery
Bruising and swelling were reported for 48 h after lip injection
Swelling is generally expected after lip injection with HA gel, a naturally water-attracting material, especially when a large amount of the product is used
Summary
The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable fillers has become increasingly widespread in facial recontouring and rejuvenation, with significant relevance in plastic surgery. A fat grafting technique was introduced more than a century ago [1]. Other materials, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hydroxyapatite cement (HAC), paraffin, and silicone have been utilized with overriding limitations (e.g., toxicity and foreign body reactions) [2]. It was only in the past two decades that safe, biocompatible, non-allergenic, and injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) filler products were developed and approved by the
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