Recommendations on the Use of Injectable Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Skin Laxity in Off-Face Areas

September 2019 | Volume 18 | Issue 9 | Original Article | 929 | Copyright © September 2019


Alessandra Haddad MD PhD,ª Antonio Menezes MD,B Christine Guarnieri MD,c Daniel Coimbra MD,d Elina Ribeiro MD,e Juliana Sarubi MD,f Luiz Eduardo Avelar MD,g Maria Paula Del Nero MD,c Marisa Gonzaga da Cunha MD PhD,a,h Rosemarie Mazzuco MD,i Cristhine Kamamoto MD PhD,c Camila Cazerta MDc

ªFederal University of São Paulo and Hospital Israelita Albert Einsten, São Paulo, Brazil

bDermatology Private Practice, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

cDermatologist. Dermatology Private Practice, São Paulo, Brazil 

DCosmetic Dermatology at Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

eDermatology Private Practice, São Paulo, Campos do Jordão and Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil

fDermatology Private Practice, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

gPrivate Practice, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

hDermatologist. Faculdade de Medicina do ABC and Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein; Dermatology Private Practice, São Paulo, Brazil

iDermatology Private Practice, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biodegradable synthetic polymer that stimulates collagen production, leading to gradual volume restoration. The treatment of sagging skin in body areas is still a big challenge, as there are few aesthetic procedures aiming to improve it. This article provides recommendations on the use of PLLA in the treatment of skin laxity in off-face areas, as the neck, décolletage, arms, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs, including the patient selection, product preparation, and injection techniques. The use of PLLA is a promising method for the treatment of skin laxity in corporal areas, improving body contour and appearance. Further investigation is needed to better understand the efficacy and durability of PLLA in non-facial indications and to provide the best evidence for optimal patient outcomes.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(9):929-935. 

INTRODUCTION

Aesthetic treatments are becoming increasingly popular among patients, especially nonsurgical procedures.1 According to statistics from the American Society of Facial Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), there was a 37.6% increase in the number of nonsurgical treatments from 2012 to 2017.2 Rejuvenation of non- facial areas is becoming a frequent complaint in patients who recognize the disparity and stigma that arise between their treated face and their non-treated body areas.

The biochemical properties of the skin are determined by the epidermis, dermal collagen and elastin network and subdermal composition.3,4 The capacity to synthesize collagen is lower in sun exposed and aged skin than in healthy, young skin. Fibroblasts in severely damaged skin (either photoaged, naturally aged, or both) experience a loss of mechanical tension as a result of decreased interaction with intact collagen, which in turn leads to a diminished production of skin macromolecules.5,6 The body mass index (BMI) of the patient, which may be used as an indicator for tissue composition, has a negative correlation with skin firmness and thickness, and a positive correlation with energy absorption.4 When patients present with body sculpting concerns, most often there is both a component of fat excess and skin laxity, with a decrease in neocollagenesis at fibrous septae and fascial planes level that accounts for changes that bother them.1 It is important to perform a correct diagnosis of the involved components in order to select the best candidates for PLLA treatments.

As we age, the cellular turnover rate declines, and skin structure begins to deteriorate. Age-related skin changes include:

1) Increase in the disorderly arrangement of the collagen fiber network7

2) Decrease in the quantity of fibroblasts8

3) Decline in collagen production by fibroblasts8

4) Increase in matrix metalloproteinases levels, the primary enzymes responsible for degradation of collagen fibers8

5) Decreased metabolic activity of the skin9

6) Massive elastosis or deposition of abnormal elastin fibers, exaggerated microvasculature, and collagen degeneration9