Solid-State Hyaluronic Acid: A Novel Delivery System to Enable the Precise and Rapid Treatment of Fine and Deep Wrinkles

Background:  Dermal fillers are highly effective for temporary volume augmentation in areas of the face, especially for deeper features such as nasolabial folds. This is largely the result of volume expansion with relatively little precision in placement.  Current dermal fillers are not optimal for treating fine or long, linear features such as transverse wrinkles of the forehead, crow’s feet, perioral rhytids and lip augmentation.  To address these clinical needs, we have developed a novel Hyaluronic Acid (HA) based filler which is not an injectable, but rather a solid state HA cylinder attached to a straight (Keith) needle. 

Methods:  A novel technique for processing hyaluronic acid into a solid state cylinder, rather than a gel was developed after numerous iterations.  Thirty one patients were treated in South America to answer the following questions: (1) would placing the solid state HA be tolerable for patients with respect to pain and (2) would the solid state HA cylinder allow for precise and straightforward correction of fine and deep wrinkles.  The follow up for this acute study was 7 days.  Treatment areas included crow’s feet, tear trough, lip volumizing and contouring, nasolabial folds, transverse forehead wrinkles, and glabellar regions.  Analysis was performed on patient questionnaires, physician questionnaires and appearance by standardized photographic analysis.

Results:   All patients tolerated the procedure well and the subjective pain for the solid state HA was less than that of traditional injectables in all patients and areas treated.  In addition, the solid state HA was highly effective in precisely treating wrinkles in the crow’s feet area, tear trough, lips, nasolabial folds, transverse forehead rhytids, and glabellar creases as judged during the 7 day follow up. Physician responses graded the solid state HA to be easier and faster than traditional injectables.

Conclusion:  This novel HA technology has significant advantages compared to injectable or gel fillers.  The HA thread can be placed in exactly the depth and position desired for treating a wrinkle or for augmentation with additional benefits in speed, predictability and reversibility not found with current injectables. Surprisingly, deposition of solid state HA was significantly less painful than existing techniques. Finally, there is no risk of embolization decreasing potential complications. Further studies with longer-term follow up are planned.