Body vectoring technique with Radiesse(®) for tightening of the abdomen, thighs, and brachial zone

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy, safety, and subject satisfaction of the calcium hydroxylapatite-based dermal filler Radiesse(®) in a novel body vectoring technique to correct skin flaccidity in the thighs, abdomen, and brachial zones.

Methods: Female subjects with self-evaluated flaccidity scores ≥3 on a 6-point scale (0, no flaccidity; 5, very severe flaccidity) in the zones of interest were included. Radiesse was injected according to predesigned vector maps (3 mL per thigh, 1.5 mL per hemiabdomen or brachial zone). Clinical assessments (skin density and thickness) were made by an independent reviewer at an exact position before and 5 weeks after treatment using a cutometer and an ultrascan. Subjects rated skin flaccidity before and 5 weeks after treatment on the 6-point scale and performed a pinch test to self-assess changes in skin thickness. All adverse events were recorded.

Results: Twenty females (aged 28-67 years) were enrolled, contributing 36 treatment zones. Across all zones, 78% of flaccidity measurements improved after treatment. Improvements in skin flaccidity were most common in the thighs (82% of cases). An improvement in skin density versus baseline was observed in the majority across all zones, most frequently in the abdomen (88% of cases). Skin thickness in each zone also improved versus baseline for the majority, most frequently in the thighs (88% of cases). Mean self-assessed flaccidity scores at baseline were 3.6 (thighs), 3.7 (abdomen), and 3.8 (brachial zone), and 2.6, 2.7, and 3.0, respectively, posttreatment. All subjects reported a positive pinch test. In total, 47.0% of subjects had bruising after treatment, which resolved within a week. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: Using this novel technique, Radiesse had notable results on skin flaccidity, density and thickness in the thighs, abdomen, and brachial zones, and was well tolerated.

Keywords: abdomen; body vectoring; brachial zone; calcium hydroxylapatite; dermal filler; thighs.

Figures

Figure 1

Examples of a vector map for injection in (A) thighs, (B) abdomen, and (C) brachial zones.

Figure 2

(A) Proportion of cutometer-evaluated skin flaccidity measurements that showed an improvement 5 weeks after treatment relative to baseline. (B) Representative cutometer trace from one subject who had their brachial zone treated, where red indicates before treatment and blue indicates after treatment. (C) Ultrascan trace recording density of the brachial zone skin from the same subject (left, before treatment; right, after treatment).

Figure 3

Proportions of skin density and thickness scores that showed an improvement 5 weeks after treatment relative to baseline.

Figure 4

Clinical photographs of the treatment area before and 5 weeks after treatment for (A) thighs and (B) abdomen (right side, treated; left side, untreated).

Figure 5

Skin flaccidity score on self-evaluation before and after treatment. Subjects assessed the flaccidity of their skin based on a 6-point scale from 0 (no flaccidity) to 5 (very severe flaccidity). Error bars show standard deviation of the mean.