The efficacy of intradermal hyaluronic acid filler as a skin quality booster: A prospective, single-center, single-arm pilot study.

[BACKGROUND] The use of "skin boosters" comprised of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers to improve skin quality has gained popularity recently, especially in individuals interested in skin rejuvenation.

[AIM] This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal micropuncture injections of HA-based gel filler combined with lidocaine (BYRYZN® SKINBOOSTER HA, ACROSS Co., Ltd., Gangwon-do, Korea).

[PATIENTS/METHODS] A prospective, single-arm, open-label pilot study was conducted with study subjects who were aged between 30 and 60 years old and exhibited evidence of skin aging, such as wrinkles and loss of elasticity. They received three injections at 2-week intervals and were followed up for a total of 12 weeks.

[RESULTS] Twenty subjects with a mean age of 54.1 years were included. The mean Lemperle wrinkle scale demonstrated a 40% decrease from 2.60 ± 0.60 at baseline to 1.55 ± 0.51 at week 8. The improvement rate was maintained at about 33% until week 12. The average maximum height of the wrinkle (Rz, μm), average skin roughness (Ra, μm), skin elasticity (R2, AU), facial curved length (mm), skin pore size (mm ), skin hydration (AU), TEWL (g/hm ), and skin glossiness (gloss value, AU) exhibited statistically significant improvements over time compared with the baseline measurements. No serious adverse effects or persistent adverse effects were reported, except for a transient subcutaneous nodule in one subject.

[CONCLUSIONS] This study demonstrates that multiple microinjections of HA-based gel filler for facial skin aging are safe and effective in improving facial skin quality.