Changes in Facial Morphology Using Poly-L-lactic Acid Application According to Vector Technique: A Case Series.

Background: The search for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures has increased considerably in recent years. A new injection technique, using vector direction, has shown good results in improving facial aesthetics but to date has only been performed with hyaluronic acid which can be associated with a risk of vascular complications. Therefore, in clinical practice, it would be interesting to assess this technique with a liquid product already widely used in the facial region, and at the same time bring the same aesthetic benefits, but with greater durability than hyaluronic acid. Objective: To investigate the improvement of facial morphology in patients with facial flaccidity submitted to the vector technique using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) (Sculptra®; Galderma, Lausanne, Switzerland). Case Series: Here we report the outcomes of three cases of female patients, aged between 41 and 55 years, seeking improvement of facial flaccidity. In each patient, PLLA was applied in the posterior temporal region as a bolus, in three points, with a 2-mL injection in the upper region, 1.5mL in the midpoint, and 1.5mL at the bottom point. Each of the three patients showed an improvement in face morphology, with concomitant improvement in the support and stretching of the face and improvement in skin sagging in the upper, middle, and bottom regions. Conclusion: The vector technique with PLLA is a viable alternative for the treatment of patients with facial skin flaccidity, providing harmonious and progressive improvement in the face morphology.

Managing the Aesthetic Patient

wide variety of therapeutic options, some challenges have arisen: designing an adequate treatment plan, electing the most suitable procedures for the patient, taking into consideration the rheological characteristics of the products, considering the amount needed to achieve a natural look, but also defining the safest way to deliver the treatment. Aging of the facial structural tissue layers occurs at a different pace and the requirements for the aesthetic approach of a 30-year-old patient are different from a 60-year-old patient. A group of twelve experts in minimally invasive injectable procedures sought to identify common changes observed in different age groups in order to help in establishing a plan of treatment for patients of different ages. The individualized aesthetic plan should consider the main pillars of the aesthetic treatment -- aging process, facial assessment, and facial anatomy, to identify and systematize common changes observed in different age groups, as well as the safest and most reproducible techniques, especially for new injectors. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(1):92-102.