Multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous non-animal-stabilized hyaluronic acid in aesthetic facial contouring: interim report.

[BACKGROUND] Non-animal-stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) gel may offer longer-lasting cosmetic correction and lower antigenic risk than other soft tissue augmentation agents.

[OBJECTIVE] To assess the efficacy and safety of the NASHA gel Restylane SubQ (Q-Med AB, Uppsala, Sweden) in aesthetic facial contouring.

[METHODS] Fifty-seven adult patients seeking cheek and/or chin augmentation received subcutaneous and/or supraperiostal injections of Restylane SubQ (20 mg/mL) at 114 treatment sites; 13 of these patients received "touch-up" injections at 20 sites. Efficacy was assessed subjectively using a 5-grade Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the initial treatment.

[RESULTS] At 3 months post-baseline, patients and investigators independently considered the treatment sites to be improved in 96.4% and 100% of cases, respectively. Patient- and investigator-assessed response rates (proportion of patients showing moderate or better improvement) were 84% and 95%, respectively. The majority of reported adverse events were treatment related (local injection-site reactions, implantation complications, skin tightness, and skin induration), but these were generally of mild intensity and short-lived.

[CONCLUSION] Restylane SubQ is well tolerated and maintains aesthetic correction of the cheeks and chin for at least 3 months after subcutaneous and/or supraperiostal treatment.