Efficacy of Ionization-Adjusted PN Filler in Minimizing Injection Pain: A Randomized, Patient-Blinded, Split-Face...

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Polynucleotide (PN) fillers are utilized for skin rejuvenation, leveraging their regenerative capabilities.
• Injection-associated pain is a significant limitation of current PN filler treatments.
• Developing pain-reduced formulations is crucial for improving patient compliance and treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel "ionization-adjusted" PN filler.
• To compare injection-related pain between the novel PN filler and a conventional PN filler.
• To assess the impact of modified pH and ionic strength on filler performance.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, patient-blinded, split-face study design was employed.
• Fifteen participants received both conventional and ionized PN fillers in separate facial areas.
• Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); efficacy was assessed via Crow's Feet Grading Scale (CFGS) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS).

Main Results:

• The ionized PN filler showed significantly lower pain scores (VAS 3.39 ± 1.81) versus conventional filler (VAS 5.04 ± 2.19, p < 0.005).
• Fewer adverse events like erythema (40% vs. 60%) and embossing (13.3% vs. 56.7%) were observed with the ionized filler.
• Both fillers demonstrated comparable improvements in wrinkle severity (CFGS) and overall aesthetic appearance (GAIS).

Conclusions:

• The ionization-adjusted PN filler offers a significant reduction in injection pain compared to conventional formulations.
• This novel filler maintains comparable clinical efficacy and safety profiles to existing PN fillers.
• The modified PN filler presents a more comfortable and potentially more widely adoptable option for skin rejuvenation treatments.