Superficial versus deep injections of the upper midface-A prospective interventional split-face study.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Traditional injection algorithms prioritize upper, lateral, or deep facial regions.
• Emerging evidence suggests superficial injections can effectively target the upper midface for aesthetic enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the aesthetic outcomes of superficial versus deep soft tissue filler injections in the upper midface.
• To evaluate efficacy using a prospective, split-face study design.

Main Methods:

• Twenty female participants received superficial injections on one side of their face and deep injections on the contralateral side.
• A mean volume of 0.78 cc was administered.
• Outcomes, including facial volume, skin vector displacement, and severity of nasolabial folds and crow's feet, were assessed at 7 weeks.

Main Results:

• No safety or tolerability adverse events were reported.
• Both superficial and deep injection techniques led to statistically significant improvements in all semiquantitative scores.
• No significant differences in outcomes were found between the superficial and deep injection methods.

Conclusions:

• Both superficial and deep cannula injection techniques for midface volumization significantly enhance facial volume and reduce wrinkles.
• The study found no statistically significant difference between the two techniques in aesthetic outcomes after 7 weeks.