Periorbital Structural and Functional Modulation Following Liquid-Type Polycaprolactone Treatment: A Pilot Study.

Periorbital aging involves structural and functional changes, such as reduced eyelid opening and altered infraorbital contour. Prior research has shown that conventional collagen biostimulators focus mainly on localized volume augmentation and dermal remodeling. This gap motivated the need to explore broader tissue interactions within the periorbital region. No prior work had resolved how biostimulators might affect functional parameters like canthal tilt angle. Established knowledge includes the role of collagen in skin support and volume restoration. However, the functional implications of biostimulators in this region remain unclear. This paper's contribution lies in evaluating structural and functional changes after a novel treatment approach. The study introduces a new perspective on how biostimulators may influence periorbital dynamics beyond localized effects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate structural and functional changes following treatment with a liquid-type polycaprolactone (PCL)-based collagen biostimulator. The specific problem addressed is the limited understanding of how such treatments affect broader periorbital tissue interactions. Motivation for the study stems from the desire to move beyond localized volume augmentation and explore functional outcomes. The researchers propose that PCL-based treatments may influence eyelid opening and contour parameters indirectly. This pilot study sought to test the hypothesis that structural changes could occur without direct upper eyelid injection. The study's design focused on assessing both anatomical and functional parameters. The motivation was to determine whether such treatments could affect contiguous anatomical planes. The study aimed to provide preliminary evidence for broader periorbital modulation.

The study involved three patients who received treatment with a liquid-type PCL-based collagen biostimulator. Clinical photographs were taken at baseline, one month, and three months post-treatment. Measurements were normalized to iris diameter to ensure consistency across subjects. Eyelid-related parameters and infraorbital contour features were assessed under both neutral gaze and maximal effort conditions. The canthal tilt angle (CTA) was also measured as part of the evaluation. Treatment was administered via upper and lower approaches without direct injection into the upper eyelid. The methods included both qualitative and quantitative assessments of periorbital changes. The approach allowed for the evaluation of structural and functional outcomes simultaneously.

Margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) showed an overall increasing trend in both neutral gaze and maximal effort conditions. ΔMRD1 remained relatively unchanged across the study period. The medial canthus-to-brow vertical distance (CBVD-M) exhibited a tendency to increase. However, brow-to-lid distance (BLD) and lateral CBVD (CBVD-L) did not show consistent patterns. Canthal tilt angle (CTA) increased across all cases studied. Upper concavity height (UC) and peak protrusion height (PP) decreased concurrently. Lower concavity height (LC) also showed a decline. These findings suggest that the treatment influenced both functional and structural aspects of the periorbital region.

The authors propose that liquid-type PCL-based treatment is associated with functional and structural changes in the periorbital region. The observed increase in MRD1 suggests potential functional improvement in eyelid opening. The absence of direct upper eyelid injection implies possible indirect effects through contiguous anatomical planes. The study suggests that infraorbital contour parameters may reflect broader structural changes. The increase in canthal tilt angle supports the idea of functional modulation. The concurrent decrease in upper and lower concavity height indicates structural remodeling. These findings may suggest that the treatment influences periorbital dynamics beyond localized effects. The authors propose that further research is needed to confirm these preliminary observations.