A Retrospective Case Series Reporting the Safety of a Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Composite Filler for Facial...

A novel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based filler has been developed for durable facial augmentation. Despite its clinical application, long-term real-world data regarding its safety profile remain limited.

This study aimed to retrospectively assess the long-term safety profile and clinical outcomes of this PVA-based filler for facial augmentation.

A multi-center, retrospective case series was conducted across eight aesthetic clinics in China. Medical records of patients who received the PVA-based filler for facial augmentation between January 2022 and January 2025 with a follow-up of at least 18 months were reviewed. Adverse events (AEs) were extracted from the original medical charts and follow-up logs and were classified by time of onset, type, and severity. A post hoc descriptive efficacy assessment using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and FACE-Q was performed on a sub-cohort with complete photographic documentation exceeding 12 months.

A total of 279 patient charts were included, with a mean follow-up period of 24.5 ± 7.2 months. Three patients (1.07%) reported at least one AE (totaling 4 events), all of which were early-onset, transient, and mild injection site reactions that resolved spontaneously. No late-onset adverse events were reported in this cohort. The descriptive efficacy analysis (n = 18) demonstrated sustained corrective effects, with a 72.2% improvement rate on GAIS and high patient satisfaction scores on FACE-Q.

In this retrospective cohort, the PVA-based composite filler demonstrated a low incidence of adverse events, with absence of documented late-onset complications in 279 patients. Descriptive observations of long-term efficacy are encouraging; further prospective, controlled studies are warranted to objectively substantiate its durability and performance.