Fibroblast variability in photoaged and nonphotoaged facelift skin.

Pre- and postauricular skin was harvested from 25 facelift patients to study fibroblast replicative ability (RA). In tissue cultures, considerable heterogeneity was found in the ability of facial skin fibroblasts to replicate, both from patient to patient, and in the relationship of preauricular and postauricular skin. Fibroblast RA ranged from 8.11 to 67.89 population doublings until senescence. Continued cellular ability to divide did not appear to be related to patient age. Fibroblasts from some older patients were able to go through as many population doublings as cells from younger patients. Fibroblasts in facial skin exposed to solar radiation were often able to replicate as well as or better than fibroblasts from protected skin. Fibroblast RA differences ranged from +45% (anterior > posterior) to -49% (posterior > anterior). Fibroblast replication in solar-exposed skin may be influenced by topical tretinoin and by female hormone replacement therapy. Further study is needed. This wide range of fibroblast RA must be taken into account when planning and evaluating any facial skin treatment.