Ann Dermatol.  2019 Dec;31(6):645-653. 10.5021/ad.2019.31.6.645.

Experimental Investigation on the Tissue Response Induced by Face-Lifting Mesh Suspension Thread in Rats

• Kim JE
• Kim YH
• Park AY
• Lee HJ
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2461987
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2019.31.6.645

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Face-lifting procedures are often performed to hide the effects of aging. Thread-lifting, a minimally invasive technique for the correction of facial aging, has become increasingly popular, and various materials for the procedure have been developed.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared tissue responses to two types of threading sutures placed under rat skin: polypropylene (PP) monofilament mesh suspension thread (a novel face-lifting material) and polydioxanone (PDO) barbed thread.
METHODS
Eight rats each were assigned to the PP monofilament mesh suspension, PDO barbed thread, and control groups. Tissue reactions were evaluated 28 days after subcutaneous loading of the materials.
RESULTS
Significant increases in tensile strength and the mean area occupied by collagen fibers were evident in skin loaded with PDO barbed thread and PP monofilament mesh suspension thread compared to control skin (p<0.05). Compared to sites loaded with PDO barbed thread, those loaded with PP monofilament mesh suspension thread showed a significant increase in the number of collagen fibers and a lower grade of inflammation (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
PP monofilament mesh suspension thread has skin-rejuvenating effects comparable to those of PDO barbed thread, but induces a less severe inflammatory response. This indicates that it is a safe and effective material for use in thread-lifting procedures on aging skin.

Keyword

Face-lifting; Mesh suspension thread; Polydioxanone thread; Thread-lifting

MeSH Terms

Aging
Animals
Collagen
Inflammation
Polydioxanone
Polypropylenes
Rats*
Skin
Sutures
Tensile Strength
Collagen
Polydioxanone
Polypropylenes

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Experimental design of the study. SD rats: Sprague Dawley rats, PDO: polydioxanone, PP: polypropylene.

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  Fig. 2 Photograph of polypropylene monofilament mesh suspension thread (RaiseMeUpTM; Prestige Medicare Co. Ltd., Seongnam, Korea).

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  Fig. 3 Body weight changes. There were no significant changes in the body weights of rats in groups B or C compared to rats in group A throughout the 28-day loading period. Before: 1 day before subcutaneous loading. The rats were sacrificed on day 28 after loading. All animals were fasted overnight before subcutaneous loading (dotted arrow). Group A: unloaded (control), group B: subcutaneously loaded with polydioxanone barbed thread (MIRACU™), group C: subcutaneously loaded with polypropylene monofilament mesh suspension thread (RaiseMeUp™).

• 

  Fig. 4 Representative gross findings. There were no serious gross findings around sites loaded with polydioxanone (PDO) barbed thread or polypropylene (PP) monofilament mesh suspension thread compared to control sites. Squares indicate remnant loaded materials. Group A: unloaded (control), group B: subcutaneously loaded with PDO barbed thread (MIRACU™), group C: subcutaneously loaded with PP monofilament mesh suspension thread (RaiseMeUp™).

• 

  Fig. 5 Tensile strength on the dorsal skin. Significant increases in skin tensile strength were determined in groups B and C compared to group A, with and without remnant loaded thread. Values are expressed as the mean±standard deviation of the data from eight rats. Group A: unloaded (control), group B: subcutaneously loaded with polydioxanone barbed thread (MIRACU™), group C: subcutaneously loaded with polypropylene monofilament mesh suspension thread (RaiseMeUp™).

• 

  Fig. 6 Histological profiles of dorsal skin tissues around loading sites. Based on measurements from the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections (A), the mean diameter of the remnant material in group B was 586.25±26.25 µm, and the mean diameter of the remnant bundles in group C was 574.77±31.60 µm. Bundles with a mean diameter of 120.77±6.25 µm were detected 28 days after loading and were well localized to the loading sites. The mean inflammatory cell grade around loading sites was significantly higher in group B than in group A rats. On the toluidine blue (TB) stained sections (B), the mast cell infiltration around the loaded regions of the dorsal skin did not significantly differ between groups B and C and control group A rats. In the Masson's trichrome (MT) stained sections (C), significant increases in collagen fibers were evident in group C compared to either group A or group B (p<0.05).

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