A planned study comparing two skin filler treatments for aging skin

Skin ageing is intricately linked to collagen degradation caused by internal and external factors. External factors contributing to ageing include ultraviolet rays, smoking, heat, and air pollution, and follow a distribution across the body according to the level of exposure. Whereas internal ageing occurs as a natural consequence of physiological changes over time. As we age, both natural internal and external factors cause stress to the body. This stress damages important molecules in our skin, including proteins, fats (lipids), and DNA. One of the main proteins affected is collagen, which gives skin its strength and firmness. This loss of collagen leads to visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, thinner skin (atrophy), rough or damaged texture (elastosis), and uneven skin tone (dyschromia).

Interventions such as collagen stimulators have shown promising outcomes in stimulating cells to produce collagen, thereby improving skin elasticity and firmness. Poly-L-Lactic Acid is a biodegradable long-chain polymer of repeating units of lactic acid derived from alpha-hydroxy acid. Injecting PLLA into the deep dermis or subcutaneous tissue, stimulates collagen production through an inflammatory response, resulting in skin rejuvenation that can last between two to three years. In contrast, CaHA-R drives the regeneration of collagens, elastin, and proteoglycans with minimal immune cell recruitment and immediate volume improvement lasting around 12-18 months. To date, there have been no randomized-controlled-trials comparing the efficacy of PLLA vs CaHa-R for skin rejuvenation in the face and body.