Comparative effects of various absorbable threads in a rat model.

BACKGROUND

Conventional procedures including botulinum toxin and filler injections have their limitations in improving deep wrinkles and decreasing tissue laxity, and possess the propensity for vascular accidents. Absorbable thread is a recently commercialized field, but there is little evidence on comparative superiority.

OBJECTIVES

We observed the effects of polydiaxanone (PDO) threads with different number of strands in relation to collagen production and histopathology in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dorsal skin of rat was divided into five different compartments and four different PDO threads and monofilament poly-lactic acid (PLA) thread were inserted. Tissue samples were obtained at week 1, 2, and 12 after the procedure for histopathologic review and real-time PCR for quantification of collagen.

RESULTS

Multiple PDO filaments produced more collagen at 2 weeks. Single-stranded PLA thread insertion resulted in more Col1α1 levels than the double PDO thread and also showed the most Col1α3 production at week 2. The amount of collagen showed a sharp decline at week 12. Histologic evaluation showed retained threads surrounded by fibrous capsule-like structure at week 12.

CONCLUSION

We were able to observe more collagen production in multiple stranded PDO threads compared to a single strand and that increasing number of threads leads to more collagen synthesis.