Evaluation of lifting and antiwrinkle effects of calcium hydroxylapatite filler. In vitro quantification of contractile forces of human wrinkle and normal aged fibroblasts treated with calcium hydroxylapatite

Summary Background As it ages, the skin changes, it loses its natural hydration and its fundamental substance degenerates. Due to a lack of hydration and nutrients, collagen production decreases. This support tissue of the skin weakens, losing tone and firmness. Depressions form on the skin's surface: these are wrinkles. Wrinkles are one of the first visible signs of the skin's aging, and mainly occur on the face. Objectives The purpose of the study was firstly to study the differences between contractile forces developed by normal aged fibroblasts ( NF ) and wrinkle fibroblasts ( WF ) of the same patients evaluating the loss of skin tone and secondly to evaluate the effects of a filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHa) on the development of contractile forces of NF and WF . Methods Biopsies were performed on wrinkled and normal aged skin of facelifts of three patients. The forces generated by the both fibroblast lines in tense collagen lattices were quantified using GlaSbox device before and after the addition of a mixture composed of CaHa. Results The forces developed by WF were significantly lower than those of NF . In the presence of the mixture with CaHa, the contractile forces developed by normal NF were significantly increased. WF treated with CaHa also developed higher contractile forces in comparison with nontreated WF . Conclusion The mixture composed of CaHa tends to restore the contractile properties of WF to the same level as NF . Therefore, this study shows that CaHa has positive overall effects on aging.