Revolutionizing Midface Volume Correction: Objective 3D Photography Assessment of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Suwanee, GA | January 6th, 2025
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are commonly used in aesthetic dermatology to address age-related volume loss and redefine facial contours. Clinical trials assessing their efficacy typically rely on subjective measures using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS), both of which provide visual assessments of patient appearance. However, these scales rated by Investigators are limited by their reliance on discrete, visual evaluations, making them less effective for detecting subtle changes in skin volume.
A recent study published in Dermatologic Surgery (2021) highlights these challenges and the need for more advanced, objective methods of assessment in aesthetic trials. Similarly, a review in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2019) emphasized the importance of incorporating 3D imaging technology to provide more precise and quantifiable data on filler performance.
About Definisse TM core + lidocaine
DefinisseTM core + lidocaine (DEFCL) is a class III CE-marked hyaluronic acid filler product exclusively owned by RELIFE S.r.l. Its performance in correcting age-related volume deficit in the midface area was reviewed in a Phase 4 clinical study, injecting DefinisseTM core + lidocaine adopting the “Pegasus Technique” developed specifically for RELIFE by international experts.
The main purpose of the trial was to evaluate global aesthetic improvement one month after injection, in subjects with midface volume deficit caused by aging. Other objectives included GAIS evaluation over 3, 6, 9,12 and 18 months, with a potential touch-up treatment administered after the 1st month following initial injection. This was coupled with skin density & thickness analyses, and most notably, objective measurements in volume augmentation using stereophotogrammetry-based 3D modeling.
Study results at 6 and 12 months after injection were presented in two research articles published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, respectively in 2023 and 2024. The 18-month results are currently published. The articles report high subjective satisfaction from both injectors and enrolled patients, as well as figures for total cheekbone volume over time, illustrated through clinical photographs.
Using 3D photography to objectively demonstrate HA filler performance
Fifty healthy women aged between 40 and 60 years old were injected with DefinisseTM core + lidocaine and photographed using QuantifiCare’s 3D LifeViz® Mini systems over the course of the study to enable objective assessment of volume augmentation following injection.
Collected photographs were processed by QuantifiCare’s technical team to re-create 3D models of subject’s faces, enabling comparisons to analyze changes in volume over time.
One month after initial treatment, a significant increase of 2.8 mL (average of both sides) was detected and long-lasting effects of the treatment could be seen at months 6, 9 and 12. The quantitative measurements of volume change in the midface area provide reliable support to physician and subject-reported outcomes.
Figure1. Photographic series showing volume variation from D0 through M3, 6, 9, and 12.
Evaluating performance HA fillers mainly relies on subjective assessments. With its LifeViz® range of photographic systems and proprietary know-how, QuantifiCare enables researchers and clinicians to objectively measure OUTCOMES of filler injections and offers novel avenues to generate and communicate treatment results in various injection.
About the 3D LifeViz® Mini
The 3D LifeViz® Mini is a unique, validated system designed to facilitate clinical photography, standardize image acquisition, and evaluate volumetric changes in aesthetic medicine with unmatched accuracy. To learn more about the applications of this system for your research, please contact:
Dorian Kaiber
Associate Director – BD operations
QuantifiCare Inc.
+1 (470) 621-4837
info@quantificare.com