PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) stimulates fibroblasts in the skin through injections, promoting collagen production, thereby enhancing the thickness, elasticity and strength of the skin. Its effects last for 6 to 12 months, and can improve the smoothness, firmness and anti-aging effects of the skin.
Microparticle injection stimulation
About 80% of people have an average increase in skin thickness of 12%-18% within 6 months. PLLA can last up to 2 years. While hyaluronic acid injections usually last for 6 to 12 months, PLLA can provide effects for up to two years, with a return on investment (ROI) of up to 120%. The recovery period for PLLA is about 3-5 days.
PLLA injections are usually performed every 6 months during the initial treatment period. In the 6th month after treatment, patients’ skin elasticity increased by about 15%-25%. In some patients, the skin’s collagen production rate increased by 18% after the first treatment, while in others, the increase reached 23%.
About 70% of participants reported a significant improvement in skin surface smoothness. Skin hydration improved by more than 20%, and fine lines were reduced by nearly 40%. Skin strength increased by 15%-18% after PLLA injection. The cost of a PLLA injection is roughly between $800 and $1,500. The average cost of a PLLA treatment is RMB 3,000 to RMB 6,000.
After PLLA injection, patients experienced nearly 20% improvement in skin elasticity. Overall skin health indicators improved by 22%. After PLLA treatment, about 68% of patients reported a significant improvement in facial contour lines.
After PLLA treatment, the thickness and firmness of the skin on the hands increased by 15%-20%, and the effect lasted up to 18 months. After PLLA treatment, the skin elasticity of a 55-year-old was improved by about 30%, and most patients began to show significant effects of collagen production within 3 months after treatment.
PLLA decomposes slowly
PLLA begins to decompose gradually within 3 to 6 months after injection, and the lactic acid molecules after each injection are completely absorbed by the body in about 6 months. Six months after PLLA injection, the rate of collagen production increased by about 22%-30%, and in some cases, the increase in collagen was as high as 35%. Twelve months after the injection, the skin thickness of patients treated with PLLA increased by an average of 16%, and this effect did not decrease significantly in the next 6 to 12 months, and even maintained a growth rate of 15%-18%.
After the initial treatment, another injection was performed every 6 to 12 months. The effect of hyaluronic acid only lasts for 6 to 12 months. The effect of PLLA makes many people not immediately notice drastic changes within 3 months after treatment, but after 5-6 months, there is a significant improvement.
The skin density after PLLA injection increased by 20% in the sixth month, and in the 12th month, this data remained almost stable, only decreasing by about 2%-4%. Six months after PLLA injection, the skin moisture content of patients increased by an average of 18%-24%. The incidence of side effects of PLLA is about 3%-5%.
Fibroblast activation
PLLA increases the number of fibroblasts in the skin by 20%-25% after injection. In the third month after PLLA treatment, the activity of fibroblasts increased by 40% compared with before treatment, and in the sixth month, the activity increased by 55%. PLLA enhances the function of fibroblasts in the skin by 15%-20% higher than hyaluronic acid. The cycle of PLLA usually takes 6 to 12 months.
After PLLA injection, about 60% of patients have an increase in the overall structure and strength of the skin by 20%-25% compared with the initial stage within the ninth month after treatment. Within 12 months of PLLA injection, about 72% of patients have an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the skin by 18%-22%.
In the second month after PLLA injection, the proliferation rate of skin fibroblasts increased by about 20%, and in the sixth month, the proliferation rate further reached 30%-35%. In young patients, the rate of collagen production is 30%-40% faster than that of older patients within 3 months after treatment.
Collagen regeneration
Three months after PLLA injection, the collagen content in the skin increased by an average of 18%-22%; and six months after injection, the collagen content further increased by 25%-30%. After PLLA injection, the skin collagen production of patients reached a peak at the 9th month, and the collagen content increased by about 32% compared with before treatment. This effect remained at a growth level of about 30% in the 12th month after treatment.
Six months after PLLA injection, the cross-linking strength of collagen increased by about 15%. Within 12 months after PLLA treatment, about 70% of the subjects had a significant improvement in the smoothness and elasticity of the skin surface, specifically, the firmness of the skin increased by 25%. After 6 months of PLLA treatment, the natural repair rate of the skin increased by 20%-25%.
Six months after PLLA injection, the collagen density of aging skin increased by 18%-22%, and after 12 months, this data further increased to 30%. The thickness of the skin increased by an average of about 12%-18%.
Six months after PLLA injection, about 75% of patients over 50 years old had an increase in collagen density in their skin, of which 40% showed an increase of 20%-25% in collagen density, and 15% of patients had an increase in skin collagen production of more than 30%.
Tissue repair trigger
The cell division rate in the stimulated area of ​​PLLA microparticle injection increased by 30%-40% compared with before injection. In the first 3 months after PLLA injection, the average repair activity increased by about 20%. Between 3 and 6 months, the cell repair rate increased by more than 50%.
Tissue density increased by 18%-25% after PLLA injection. Within 6 months after PLLA injection, the microvascular density in the local area increased by about 30%-35%. Within 6 months after injection, the thickness of the dermis increased by an average of 10%-12%. After PLLA injection, the local immune activity of the skin was enhanced by about 25%-30%.
After PLLA injection, 60% of the subjects showed a 40% increase in the repair rate of scars and wounds within 6 months after treatment. After PLLA injection, the repair capacity of deep skin tissue increased by 30%-35%.
Biodegradation process
Higher molecular weight PLLA is completely degraded, usually within 12 months, while low molecular weight PLLA may be completely degraded in about 6 months. In the first month after PLLA degradation in the body, the number of inflammatory cells in local tissues increased by about 20%-30%.
Within 3 months after PLLA injection, the amount of local collagen synthesis increased by 15%-20% compared with before injection. In the 6th month after injection, the amount of collagen production began to reach the maximum, usually more than 1.5 times before injection. In the 9th month after PLLA degradation, the thickness of the dermis of the skin increased by about 12%-18%.
In the 2nd month after PLLA injection, the density of fibroblasts increased by 15%-25% compared with before injection. In the 3rd month after the release of PLLA degradation products, the blood flow in the local area increased by about 25%-30%. In the 6th month after PLLA injection, the connective tissue density of local tissues usually increased by about 10%-15%. PLLA effects remain stable for the next 6 to 12 months.
Long-term hyperplastic effect
PLLA effects can last for at least 12 months. At the third month, the average amount of collagen synthesis in patients increased by 20%-25%, and at the sixth month, the amount of hyperplastic collagen increased further by 25%-30%. At the ninth month after PLLA injection, collagen production increased by 40% compared to the initial stage.
At the sixth month after injection, the thickness of the skin increased by about 12%-15%. At the ninth month, the thickness of the dermis of the skin treated with PLLA increased by about 18%-20%. Within 6 months after treatment, the proliferation rate of fibroblasts increased by 35%-40%.
At the sixth month after PLLA treatment, about 70% of patients had significantly less skin laxity and increased firmness by 18%-22%, and at the 12th month, the skin laxity decreased by 35%-40%. A study of patients over 60 years old showed that at 9 months after PLLA treatment, the amount of collagen produced in the skin increased by 28%-32% compared to before treatment.
At 6 months after treatment, the elasticity of the patient’s skin increased by about 20%-25%, and at 12 months after treatment, the elasticity improved by 30%. The dermal matrix of the skin became tighter in the 6 months after treatment, and the elastic fiber content in the dermal matrix increased by 15%-20%.