Comparison of 2.5% agarose gel vs hyaluronic acid filler, for the correction of moderate to severe nasolabial folds

Abstract

Revolumization with dermal fillers is one of the primary tools in the nonsurgical armamentarium used in the treatment of facial aging.Revolumization of facial fat pads can correct the "deflated" appearance characteristic of the aging face or be used to fill in fine lines and wrinkles to provide a more youthful appearance. To date, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have dominated the injectable filler landscape and represent the entirety of nonbiostimulatory fillers. In spite of their popularity, there remains a need for additional agents that are both safe and can be adapted to a wide range of esthetic filler applications.

Algeness—What do we know about this filler

“…Clinical studies predominantly demonstrate the efficacy of Algeness in the treatment of nasolabial folds, but positive results have also been reported for lip augmentation and nonsurgical rhinoplasties. Algeness may have noncosmetic applications for head and neck indications given its nonhydrophilic nature 1,21 . Although Algeness presents an attractive alternative to HA fillers due to its unique characteristics, it is important to note that further studies investigating delayed adverse events and management of intravascular complications are needed to fully establish its safety and efficacy.…”

“…For both fillers, the average patient satisfaction scores were greatest at 4 months follow‐up and returned to baseline at 7‐ and 8‐month follow‐ups 1 . The time of complete product absorption was approximately 8 months for both treatments, and no study participants were left with residual product remaining past 11 months 1 . There was no significant difference in the rate of early adverse events between products, with the most common being pain (54.5% of vs. 66.7%) erythema (22.7% vs. 24.2%), and bruising (24.2% vs. 28.8%) for both cohorts ( p > 0.05) 1 .…”

“…However, the purification of agarose for gel electrophoresis was not reported until the 1960s 6,7 . It was in this role that AG became widely used in molecular chemistry 1 . AG is a sterile, viscoelastic, and nonimmunogenic hydrogel 2,8 .…”

“…For the treatment of moderate to severe nasolabial folds, a split‐face prospective study of 46 subjects comparing Algeness VL 2.5% and Restylane Lyft™ found no significant difference in outcomes as measured by the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS) and patient satisfactory scores 1 . For both fillers, the average patient satisfaction scores were greatest at 4 months follow‐up and returned to baseline at 7‐ and 8‐month follow‐ups 1 . The time of complete product absorption was approximately 8 months for both treatments, and no study participants were left with residual product remaining past 11 months 1 .…”

“…Dermal fillers are used to rejuvenate and treat facial aging 1 . Filling agents have gained popularity due to their ability to restore volume while minimizing surgical complications 2 .…”