Objectives: - Understand retinacular cutis (RC) anatomy and physiology
- Recognize Treatment Goals
- Discuss different types of injectable solutions used for facial treatments, and understand how they interact with the skin's layers
- Perform facial assessment: learn how to perform skin assessment, including hydration, elasticity, TEWL, color and skin thickness
- Apply Injection Techniques with regards to facial ligaments and RC
- Conduct Safety Assessments: monitor and assess potential adverse reactions that may arise from injectable treatments
- Evaluate Treatment Outcomes, show before/after photos
Introduction: RC is a complex network of loosely interlaced collagen fibers that lies just beneath the skin: it is an extension of connective tissue from superficial fascia to the dermis, that connects the skin to the deeper layers of tissue, including muscles and bones, effectively suspending the skin, and allowing it to move in tandem with the body's movements. As we age, RC undergoes changes, which can contribute to visible signs of aging, such as sagging, and loss of skin firmness. Purpose: to assess safety, efficacy and the impact of proposed injection technique on skin and RC biophysical parameters.
Materials / method: Objective evaluation of skin properties (skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin color (degree of melanin and erythema), elasticity, skin thickness and collagen density with the DermaLab Combo skin analyzing device (Cortex Technology, Denmark) was performed before the injection of HA based solution, 30- and 120- days after the injection, on 28 healthy female volunteers with consent form (age range 25-65 y.o). Each bolus was injected with regards to a specific ligament (lateral orbital thickening, zygomatic-cutaneous ligament, upper masseteric ligament, mandibular ligament, etc)
Results: We have registered the effectiveness and safety of injection technique with regards to facial ligaments, aimed to improve the quality of facial connective tissue, including the RC with HA-based injectable solution. The objective evaluation has proven the significant increase of skin hydration - by 18%, elasticity (by 20%) and collagen density (with ultrasound probe) - by 12%, compared to parameters taken before the injection. The TEWL hasn't changed, which proves the safety of the technique, which left the epidermal barrier intact. Skin color (degree of melanin and erythema) didn't change.
Conclusion: The skin analysis by Derma lab combo device proves the significant effectiveness of Ligaments technique with HA-based solution. The data recorded on the skin hydration, elasticity and density improvement is very encouraging, especially considering the minimal invasiveness of the procedure and the limited number of sessions required. The improvement of skin quality on the vast majority of cases occurs after the first treatment, and as the treatment protocol progresses, patients feelings and their individual assessment of skin quality also gradually improve. No adverse effects were encountered
Disclosures
Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No
Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No
Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No
Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No
This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability