Use of calcium hydroxylapatite in the upper third of the face: Retrospective analysis of techniques, dilutions and adverse events

Abstract

Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) is a commonly used soft tissue filler for aesthetic facial improvement, in particular for the lower and mid-face. The golden standard for upper facial filler indications is hyaluronic acid (HA) injection. In this report we investigate the safety, efficacy and complication rates after injections of CaHA to the upper third of the face using a variety of different techniques. This was a retrospective analysis performed on patients who had received CaHA in 2016 and 2017 at various dilutions in the upper third of the face (frontal area, eyebrows and temporal hollows) using a number of injection techniques and both blunt-tipped cannulas as well as sharp needles. Records of adverse events and side effects were studied. Seventy patients had been injected with CaHA in the upper third of the face. There were 36 treatments to the frontal area, most with a cannula in the subgaleal space with standard dilution of CaHA (16.7% lidocaine containing epinephrine). There were 13 treatments to the brow, mostly with a cannula and multilevel technique, and 66 treatments to the temporal hollows, mostly with a cannula in the interfascial space with standard CaHA dilution. No serious complications were recorded. CaHA was effective and well-tolerated for a range of upper-face indications. More (prospective) research is required to further determine the value of CaHA treatments in these areas.

Keywords: brow lift; calcium hydroxylapatite; frontal concavity; soft tissue fillers; temporal hollows.