BACKGROUND

Postinjection alopecia is a rare but significant complication of facial fillers, likely caused by compromised microcirculation and follicular damage. Effective treatments are needed, but regenerative therapies specifically for this etiology lack systematic investigation.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined autologous chylated fat (ACF) and concentrated growth factors (CGF) for treating acute alopecia following facial filler injection.

METHODS

In this single-center, retrospective case series, nine female patients with acute alopecia (2-4 weeks post-HA filler) were treated between June 2021 and June 2024. Treatment involved three monthly subcutaneous injections of a 1:1 ACF and liquid CGF mixture (0.1 mL/cm). Outcomes were assessed at 6 months posttreatment initiation, including hair density, diameter, terminal/vellus ratio, anagen/telogen ratio, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and adverse events.

RESULTS

All nine patients completed the 6-month follow-up. Significant improvements (p < 0.001) were observed at 6 months compared to baseline: hair density increased from 32.7 ± 13.4 to 92.4 ± 23.4 hairs/cm, hair diameter from 52.3 ± 15.2 to 75.8 ± 21.7 μm, terminal/vellus ratio from 0.31 ± 0.11 to 1.27 ± 0.35, and anagen proportion from 18.4% ± 6.5% to 63.7% ± 14.9%. GAIS scores indicated high satisfaction. Treatment was well-tolerated, with only one patient reporting transient erythema.

CONCLUSION

Combined ACF and CGF represent a promising and effective treatment for post-filler alopecia, offering a novel therapeutic option for early intervention and improved esthetic outcomes.