A Prospective Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

Abstract

Background: Non-surgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is a three-dimensional reshaping technique that achieves tissue enhancement by placing HA deep to nasal skin. Due to its unique rheology, Restylane® Lyft (HA-L, Galderma, Uppsala, Sweden) may be particularly well-suited for injection rhinoplasty, as it has high gel firmness (G’) for strong structural support with minimal integration propensity. Methods: A prospective clinical trial was conducted to evaluate HA-L use for non-surgical rhinoplasty. Thirty-three females were observed over eight months, using the following schedule: Visit 1 = Baseline/Treatment 1; Visit 2 = Optional touch up (Week 2); Visits 3–6 = Follow-ups (Months 1,3,6,8). The primary endpoint was subject improvement at Month 1 assessed by a blinded evaluator using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Subject satisfaction and adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated. Results: A deep, periosteal injection using a bolus technique and 0.34 cc of HA-L was most often used. Seven cases of positive aspiration occurred in 167 injection points (4.19%), among 6/33 (18.18%) subjects. Based on the GAIS, 100% of subjects met the primary endpoint. Subject satisfaction was maximal at Month 1 (100%) and largely maintained at Month 8 (78.57%). Besides expected injection-related AEs (eg, ecchymosis, erythema), immediate AEs during/following treatment were limited to presyncopal symptoms [5/33 subjects (15.15%)]. Importantly, no cases of ischemia were observed. Subject-reported AEs (eg, swelling, erythema, pain) dissipated within 2 to 7 days. Conclusion: Given the technical nature of this technique, HA-L may be well-suited for injection rhinoplasty, due to its strong safety and efficacy profile. Level of Evidence: Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort study.