The procedure using sutures made of absorbable poly-L-lactic acid and poly lactide/glycolide is a relatively safe procedure without major complications.

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BACKGROUND Studies involving superficial facial fat compartments are few in number with conflicting results. Most of them involved small study groups and compared measurements between different populations of young and old subjects either on cadavers or living subjects. OBJECTIVE To clarify volumetric and dimensional changes in midfacial superficial fat compartment retrospectively in patients who underwent a repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without gross pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 70 patients with a mean age of 60 years (range: 33–82 years) and a median elapsed time of 44.5 months (range: 32–64 months) between 2 MRIs were included. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed in the axial and sagittal planes to obtain measurements of the medial part of the superficial cheek fat. Superficial cheek fat was divided into 3 compartments. Thickness, width, and height were measured, and volumes were calculated for each compartment on both hemifaces. RESULTS Volume and thickness were decreased significantly in all compartments (p < .05). The width was decreased in superior and middle compartments, whereas increased in lower compartment indicating dislocation of the fat tissue (p < .05). Height was also significantly increased (p < .05). A subgroup analysis has shown that there was no significant difference between men and women. CONCLUSION This study clarifies that aging is associated with a significant decrease in superficial midfacial fat tissue volume and thickness both in women and men. The decrease in width in upper and middle compartments, but increase in lower compartment suggests a volume shift within superficial fat tissue.

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Background Previous studies on alterations in superficial fat compartments with age yielded contradictory results; the superficial fat tissue volume or thickness was reported to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged. Aims To investigate volumetric and dimensional changes in superficial midfacial fat tissue retrospectively in patients who underwent a repeated computed tomography (CT). Methods A total of 262 patients (mean age, 46 years; median elapsed time between two CT imagings, 56 months) were included. Axial and sagittal planes were used for measurements of the medial part of the superficial cheek fat (SCF), which is divided into three compartments. The thickness, width, and height of each compartment were measured, and volumes were calculated for both hemifaces. Additionally, results were compared between males and females, and between three age groups: <45, 45–54, and ≥55 years. Results The total volume of SCF and inferior compartment was significantly increased compared with the first CT findings (p < 0.05). Upper and middle compartment volumes were found to decrease with age (p < 0.05). Thickness was decreased in the upper and middle compartments but not in the lower compartment. The width of the lower and middle compartments increased (p < 0.05), while the upper compartment did not show a significant change with age (p > 0.05). The height of the superficial fat layer was significantly increased at follow‐up (p < 0.05). The results were similar for both sexes and all age groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions SCF undergoes significant volume and dimensional changes with aging. Therefore, superficial fat tissue should be considered for enhancement of cosmetic treatments.