Augmentation of the malar area with polyacrylamide hydrogel: experience with more than 1300 patients.

BACKGROUND

Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAHG) is widely used in biomedical research and industry and has been used as a soft tissue filler in some countries for more than a decade.

OBJECTIVE

The author evaluated the results of malar area augmentation with PAHG.

METHODS

Results from 1306 patients who were treated with PAHG for soft tissue augmentation of the malar area from 2000 to 2006 were retrospectively assessed. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 6 years.

RESULTS

Patients were initially satisfied in 95% of cases (1241 patients). In 5% of cases (65 patients), patients were not satisfied with the result because the injected volume was insufficient. Adverse events occurred in 8.4% of cases (111 patients) with lumps, gel displacement, and pain being the most frequent complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, PAHG has proven to be a safe material for achieving facial soft tissue augmentation with minimal side effects. A follow-up study is necessary to evaluate longer-term results and possible side effects of augmentation with PAHG.