Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40679154›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025

Efficacy and Safety of Poly-l-Lactic Acid for Correction of Midfacial Volume Loss and Contour Defects: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Parallel-Controlled, Evaluator-Blinded, Superiority Trial.

Yi Zhang, Xinling Zhang, Xuejie Gao, Yaqi Wei, Wenjiang Qian, Zhongyang Sun, Jinping Ding, Shiwei Bao, Rongxin Ren, Hongyi Zhao

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled TrialEquivalence Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yi ZhangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2251-5577
Xinling ZhangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Xuejie GaoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yaqi WeiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Wenjiang QianDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Zhongyang SunDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Jinping DingDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Shiwei BaoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Rongxin RenDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Hongyi ZhaoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Funding

Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation L234065
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPoly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) is widely used in esthetic medicine due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PLLA facial filler in correcting midfacial volume loss and/or contour defects.

methodsIn this prospective, multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, superiority clinical trial, 331 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either PLLA (experimental group) or hyaluronic acid (HA, control group). Efficacy was assessed using the Midfacial Volume Scale (MMVS) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Safety was evaluated based on adverse events.

resultsThe PLLA group demonstrated significantly higher efficacy in MMVS scores compared to the HA group (90.57% vs. 51.01%, difference of 39.56%, 95% CI: 30.34%-48.78%). These results were consistent across worst-case and per-protocol analyses. Secondary outcomes revealed higher MMVS and GAIS scores in the PLLA group at 6 months (MMVS: 93.04% vs. 69.33%, GAIS investigator rating: 99.37% vs. 86.67%) and 12 months (MMVS: 84.91% vs. 46.98%, GAIS investigator rating: 94.34% vs. 74.50%) (p < 0.05). Participant satisfaction surveys showed higher satisfaction in the PLLA group (p < 0.05). Safety analysis revealed no significant differences in vital signs, laboratory tests, or adverse events (p > 0.05), with a slightly higher incidence of injection site reactions in the PLLA group, which resolved within 1-3 days.

conclusionThe comprehensive analysis of results indicates that PLLA is a safe and effective treatment for the correction of midfacial volume loss and midfacial contour defects.

Indexed as

Cosmetic TechniquesDermal FillersPolyestersAdultEstheticsFaceFemaleHumansHyaluronic AcidMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionProspective StudiesSingle-Blind MethodSkin AgingTreatment OutcomeDermal FillersHyaluronic AcidPolyesterspoly(lactide)midfacial contour defectsmidfacial volume losspoly‐l‐lactic acidsuperiority clinical trial

Identifiers

PMID40679154
PMCPMC12273185

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.