[Facial rejuvenation using L-polylactic acid: about 298 successive cases].

AIM OF THE STUDY: Patients seeking care of facial ageing demand an aesthetic result that appears natural and is very safe, with techniques the less invasive possible. Our series of cases helps analyse the efficiency and safety of L-polylactic acid in the management of facial ageing.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective analysis of a single series of patients treated with L-polylactic acid (Sculptra™) between September 2000 and September 2007. All patients over 18 years, consulting for facial ageing and/or loss of volume and treated with L-polylactic acid injections, were included in our evaluation. Patients with facial lipoatrophy related to HIV were excluded from this evaluation.

RESULTS: The series consist of 298 patients who received a total of 582 injections of L-polylactic acid. The reason for consultation was basically facial ageing (85.9%) and loss of facial volume (12.1%). Ninety-one percent patients were satisfied with the correcting effect. Fourteen patients (4.7%) showed a late adverse event: palpable but non-visible subcutaneous indurations (11 patients, 3.7%) and deep, little visible, multiple granuloma-like nodules that required treatment (three patients, 1%).

CONCLUSION: L-polylactic acid is a filler that facilitates natural correction of ageing with minimum adverse event. Its mechanism of action gives it a special place among other injectable materials. The surgeon who conducts adipocyte grafting will appreciate its ease of use and remodelling volumising effect.