Nonsurgical lower eyelid rejuvenation using injectable poly-d,l-lactic acid in Asian patients

Background Filler injection for lower eyelid rejuvenation remains a difficult subject due to many complicated anatomic changes as the face ages. Objectives To propose an alternative, simple, and effective filler injection method in lower eyelids for Asian patients. Methods Any patient who has tear trough deformities, infra-orbital hollows, nasojugal grooves, dark eye circles, as well as mild eyebags is a potential candidate for this method. Our filler choice is injectable poly-d,l-lactic acid (PDLLA; AestheFill; REGEN). PDLLA must be reconstituted with sterile water for injection (SWFI) before administration. When the patient's troughs, grooves, or volume deficit are classes II and III, 3-4 ml of SWFI and 1 ml of lidocaine are used. When the deficits are class I, 5-7 ml of SWFI and 1 ml of lidocaine are used. With the fanning injection technique, a wide region that covers all the deficits is evenly injected. The depth is under the dermis layer. The total amount of filler injection is not more than 2 ml on each side. Results Since 2019, we have injected more than 100 patients by following these steps in Taiwan. The level of patient satisfaction is high. Only some mild and transient post-injection complications such as edema, erythema, and ecchymosis were found. Conclusions We propose an alternative, simple and effective method for non-surgical lower eyelid rejuvenation for Asian patients. However, anyone who wants to perform this procedure should be well-trained and knowledgeable about the anatomy, product, and procedure to prevent adverse events.