lek. Karina Felberg
Key words: biodegradable dermal fillers, polycaprolactone, neocollagenogenesis
Abstract
We observe a dynamic development of minimally invasive methods used in medical aesthetic treatments. The most frequently performed procedures still include the injection of dermal fillers, one of them is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer – polycaprolactone (PCL). Polycaprolactone was previously used to produce high-safety thread and drug delivery systems with the so-called slow release and has the status of a substance “Generally Recognized as Safe” – GRAS issued by the FDA.
After injection of the PCL suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose gel carrier into the dermis an inflammatory reaction occurs with the formation of short type III collagen fibers, followed by a stimulation and renewal reaction: a collagen skeleton is formed around the microspheres, which has been proven in animal
and human studies. Numerous observational studies have demonstrated the process of neocollagenogenesis in patients administered PCL.
PCL is most commonly administered in the zygomatic region, in the temporal area, in marionette lines, chin, nose and jaw angle. Adverse reactions to PCL are very rare and are mild in nature. The time of stimulation with polycaprolactone in the tissue is two years, while the collagen formed during the stimulation lasts 15 years. There are no standardized clinical trials that would compare the effects of different tissue stimulators or analyze combined protocols.
