Evidence Hub

Histological effects of a combined collagen stimulation procedure consisting of microfocused ultrasound, soft tissue filler, and Ca-HA injections

Casabona G, Kaye K, Cotofana S, Davidovic K, Alfertshofer M, Freytag L

Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An increasing demand for in-office aesthetic procedures aiming to improve collagen stimulation has been reported.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of combinations of different aesthetic collagen stimulation procedures using histological analysis.

METHODS: Histological analysis was performed on skin samples of the excess skin of a 60-year-old patient after sub-superficial musculo-aponeurotic system facelift surgery. The excess skin before facelift surgery was divided into three areas per hemiface. Each area-with exception of area A as a control-received an isolated or combined treatment of microfocused ultrasound (MFU), injections of calcium-hydroxylapatite/hyaluronic-acid-based soft tissue filler, and microneedling. The effect of the treatments was analyzed using histological analysis with H&E coloration and PAS staining.

RESULTS: A threefold increase of epidermal and dermal thickness was achieved by treating the skin with the proposed combined treatment comprising MFU and injections of calcium-hydroxylapatite- and hyaluronic-acid-based soft tissue fillers.

CONCLUSION: The investigated treatments act synergistically in the production of collagen and combining these treatments allows for an increase in collagen production.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free