Agarose Gel: An Overview of the Dermal Filler and a Clinical Experience With 700 Patients

Abstract

Background: Dermal fillers currently in the market have several advantages and disadvantages over each other. Agarose gel (AG) is a unique material due to its special rheological characteristics and gel-forming capability.

Objectives: The authors aimed to share their clinical experience on AG for a variety of facial augmentation procedures and its long-term results.

Methods: The study population consisted of 700 patients (532 females; 168 males) aged 18 to 52 years. Follow-up visits were at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the injections. Patient satisfaction was evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10 using a survey and clinical improvement was evaluated using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) by 2 independent plastic surgeons before the injection and at 1-year follow-up.

Results: Eighty-two percent of the patients scored 1 or 2 (exceptional or great improvement) on GAIS. Eighty-five percent of the patients scored 8 or above (very satisfied). Most patients experienced at least 80% persistence of effect at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions: AG appears to be suitable for a variety of facial augmentation and contouring applications, as it is safe and has long-lasting favorable cosmetic efficacy.

Figure 1.

(A) Chemical structure of agarose. (B) The 3D structure of the AG, with pores of different size, observed by scanning electron microscope.

Figure 2.

(A, C) Preprocedure and (B, D) 2 years postprocedure results of a 26-year-old female can be seen after 1.4 mL of 3.5% AG injection supraperiosteally to chin. Follow-up images showing the remaining clinical effects can be seen 2 years after the initial treatment.

Figure 3.

A 47-year-old male patient (A, C, E) prior to treatment of smile lines and (B, D, F) 12 months after injection of 3.5 mL of 3.5% AG to each side. The procedure was performed on subdermal plane using linear threading technique with a 23 G cannula.

Figure 4.

A 28-year-old male patient (A, C) prior to treatment and (B, D) 2 years after initial injection and 1-month touch-up treatment of 0.7 mL of %3.5 mL AG to radix and nasal spine each, combined with HA filler to tip and supratip area.

Figure 5.

(A, C) Preprocedure and (B, D) 2 years postprocedure results of 22-year-old female patient can be seen after 1.4 mL of 3.5% AG injection to each zygoma on the supraperiosteal plane. A total of 2.8 mL of 3.5% AG filler was used in the procedure.

Figure 6.

A 34-year-old female patient (A) prior to treatment of nasolabial area and smile lines and (B) 18 months after the injection of 2.1 mL of 2.5% AG to each side can be seen. The procedure was performed on subdermal plane using linear threading technique with a 23 G cannula.