Hyaluronic acid fillers with cohesive polydensified matrix for soft-tissue augmentation and rejuvenation: a literature review

Introduction

In recent years, injectable dermal fillers have challenged the use of more invasive esthetic surgical procedures.^1–3 Based on a survey conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there were more than eleven million nonsurgical procedures performed worldwide in 2013, and more than three million involved resorbable fillers.⁴ Nonpermanent dermal fillers are mainly used for the filling of rhytides and folds, and the correction of soft-tissue loss caused by disease or age.⁵ They provide volume restoration,^1–3 with minimal downtime, favorable safety profile, and rapid and reproducible results.⁶

The most commonly used dermal filler is hyaluronic acid (HA).⁷ According to the statistics of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, >1.6 million HA filler procedures were performed in 2014 in the US, making it the second most frequently used nonsurgical esthetic procedure after botulinum toxin.

HA, which is a naturally occurring biopolymer, is degraded by a family of enzymes called hyaluronidases.⁸ Various crosslinking techniques have been developed to prevent the rapid degradation of HA in the skin and provide long-term treatment effects.^1,9,10 The crosslinking technology, the uniformity and size of the particles, and the HA concentration of the filler determine its viscoelastic properties, and therefore its clinical effect.^5,11

The first HA dermal fillers on the market were non-­cohesive biphasic fillers, characterized as crosslinked particles suspended in a non-crosslinked HA matrix acting as a lubricant.^11,12 These products (eg, Restylane^®, Q-Med AB, Uppsala, Sweden, a wholly owned subsidiary of Galderma, Fort Worth, TX, USA; HA concentration 20 mg/mL) are manufactured with nonanimal-stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA^®) ­technology.¹³ A large variety of HA dermal fillers have since been designed. Monophasic monodensified fillers, in contrast to biphasic gels, do not undergo “sizing”, a process that breaks down the gel.¹⁴ As a result, they contain a single phase of HA with a single density.¹¹ Different families of monophasic monodensified fillers exist depending on the manufacturing technology, such as the Hylacross^® technology (eg,  Juvéderm^® Ultra, Allergan, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; HA concentration 24 mg/m)¹⁴ or the Vycross^® technology (eg, Juvéderm^® Volbella, HA concentration 15 mg/mL).¹⁵ Cohesive monophasic polydensified gels (Belotero^® range; Anteis S.A., Geneva, Switzerland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) were more recently introduced. In contrast to monodensified fillers which are crosslinked once, polydensified fillers contain a single phase of HA that is crosslinked continuously.¹¹ They are manufactured with the cohesive polydensified matrix (CPM^®) technology, resulting in a gel with nonuniform crosslinking and molecular weight¹⁶ and a viscosity that is lower than that of other fillers (comparing fillers targeting the same indication).¹⁷ These properties allow for a more homogeneous intradermal distribution of the material.^3,18

The Belotero^® range of products offers different densities of HA (concentration ranging from 18 to 26 mg/mL) to suit different purposes regarding soft-tissue augmentation and rejuvenation. The first Belotero^® dermal filler available on the market was Belotero^® Basic, initially launched in Germany in 2005. The equivalent product Belotero^® Balance was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2011. The Belotero^® range also includes Belotero^® Hydro, Soft, Intense, and Volume.

Since their introduction, a large quantity of clinical data has been collected on the Belotero^® dermal fillers. The objective of this paper was to review the clinical evidence regarding the performance, tolerability, and safety of the Belotero^® dermal fillers for soft-tissue augmentation and rejuvenation.

Materials and methods

Clinical evidence was reviewed for the whole range of Belotero^® dermal fillers, which are briefly described in Table 1.

Table 1 Key characteristics and indications of Belotero® dermal fillers and hyaluronic acid fillers used as comparators in split-face, randomized controlled trials Note: aThe listed countries are the ones where the brand Belotero® is on the market, excluding the ones with the sister brands marketed by Anteis. Abbreviations: CPM®, cohesive polydensified matrix; EU, European Union; HA, hyaluronic acid; NASHA®, nonanimal-stabilized hyaluronic acid; NLF, nasolabial fold.

The PubMed database was searched for all relevant articles up until May 31, 2015, using the following keywords: “Belotero”, “Esthélis/Esthelis” (both terms, if number of hits were different), “Fortélis/Fortelis”, “Modélis/Modelis”, “Mesolis”, “Merz”, “Anteis”, “hyaluronic”, “hyaluronate”, “cohesive polydensified matrix”, “CPM technology”, “polydense cohesive matrix”, and “monophasic polydensified”.

The literature search was performed by independent medical writers. Additional references were also retrieved after reading the initial references and review articles. Selected papers were published in peer-reviewed journals in one of the following languages: English, French, and ­German. Conference abstracts were not considered for review.

The study design, injection procedures and injected volume, population, and main assessments are described for each clinical study in Table 2. Performance assessment was based on quantitative scales, such as the Merz Aesthetics Scales or the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS), or more subjective scales (patient-reported assessment), which are briefly described in Table 3. Less frequently, performance was assessed using objective imaging techniques. Mean wrinkle depth was measured using a 3 dimensional technique called phase-shift rapid in vivo measurement of skin,^9,19 referred to as skin topography or high-resolution profilometry.²⁰ Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used in patients with facial lipoatrophy to quantify the volume of HA, bound water content, skin thickness, and tissue vascularization.²¹ The integration of the filler in the tissue was assessed by ultrasonography,^22–24 a technique also used to measure skin thickness.^23,24

Table 2 Belotero® dermal fillers: summary of the study design, methods, and main end points Note: a-cStudies with the same superscript letter were conducted in the same patients (eg, RCT and extension study). Abbreviations: AEs, adverse events; FVLS, Facial Volume Loss Scale; GAIS, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale; HA, hyaluronic acid; MAS, Merz Aesthetics Scales; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NLF, nasolabial fold; PRIMOS, phase-shift rapid in vivo measurement of skin; RCT, randomized controlled trial; VAS, visual analog scale; WSRS, Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale.

Table 3 Performance assessment of dermal fillers: rating scales, and investigator’s and patient’s satisfaction Note: The last column (“Reference”) refers to the publication describing/validating the scale, if any. Abbreviations: FVLS, Facial Volume Loss Scale; GAIS, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale; MAS, Merz Aesthetics Scales; NLF, nasolabial fold; VAS, visual analog scale; WSRS, Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale.

Results

A total of 26 papers presenting original efficacy or safety clinical data on Belotero^® dermal fillers were reviewed (Table 2). Performance and safety findings with Belotero^® products are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4 Belotero® dermal fillers: summary of clinical findings Notes: a-cStudies with the same superscript letter were conducted in the same patients (eg, RCT and extension study).“Not formally assessed” means the outcomes are mentioned in the publication but without supportive numerical data. Abbreviations: AEs, adverse events; FVLS, Facial Volume Loss Scale; GAIS, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale; HA, hyaluronic acid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NLF, nasolabial fold; ns, not significant; QoL, quality of life; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SAEs, serious adverse events; VAS, visual analog scale; WSRS, Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale.

Of the 26 papers, 20 presented data on Belotero^® Basic/Balance, one on Belotero^® Hydro, four on Belotero^® Soft, five on Belotero^® Intense, and three on Belotero^® Volume.

Five papers presented clinical data on more than one Belotero^® dermal filler, with or without pooled results (Esthélis^® Basic and Soft,^25–27 Belotero^® Basic/Balance, and Intense^28,29), and one paper presented data on a combination of products (Belotero^® dermal filler injected after botulinum toxin and calcium hydroxyapatite³⁰).

In all but two studies,^31,32 the Belotero^® dermal fillers did not contain lidocaine, since the addition of lidocaine to the Belotero^® range is relatively recent (April 2014 for Belotero^® Basic/Balance and Belotero^® Intense, January 2015 for Belotero^® Volume).

Belotero^® Basic/Balance

Among the 20 studies that investigated the performance and safety of Belotero^® Basic/Balance, six were focused on nasolabial folds (NLFs),^9,33–37 five on various facial areas,^{26,27,32,38,39} two on infraorbital hollow,^22,40 one on tear trough,⁴¹ one on lip volume restoration,⁴² one on perioral lines,³¹ and one on atrophic scars.²⁵ In addition, three studies presented data on Belotero^® Basic/Balance combined to other Belotero^® dermal fillers for deep lines and wrinkles filling,²⁸ whole-face rejuvenation,³⁰ or HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy.²⁹

The state of the literature is consistent with the indications most frequently treated with Belotero^® Basic/Balance. In a 5-year chart review including 317 patients and 668 treatments, the areas most commonly treated were the NLFs (166 treatments, 24.9%), the marionette lines (122 treatments, 18.3%), and the perioral lines (106 treatments, 15.9%).³⁸

Performance of Belotero^® Basic/Balance

Nasolabial folds

Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using a split-face design have been conducted on Belotero^® Basic/Balance, with other HA fillers (Restylane^®, Juvéderm^® Ultra 3, n=20 per arm)^9,37 and bovine collagen (n=118)^35,36 as comparators. In both cases, the treated area was the NLF, which was rated as moderate to severe at baseline.

Short-term performance of the fillers was evaluated immediately after injection and after 2–4 weeks. To assess treatment longevity, further assessments were regularly performed, with a last evaluation at 6,³⁶ 12,³⁷ and up to 22 months (ie, 96 weeks).³⁵

Based on skin topography, the mean reduction in the wrinkle depth at 4 weeks was shown to be greater with Belotero^® Basic/Balance (–109.5 µm) than with Restylane^® (–71.8 µm, P<0.0001; Figure 1 and Table 4).⁹

Figure 1 Two-dimensional surface profiles before (black lines) and 4 weeks after treatment (gray lines) with Belotero® Basic and Restylane®. Notes: Height (µm) on the vertical axis corresponds to wrinkle depth. It was calculated as the mean of 50 profile lines across the wrinkles of the target area, using the phase-shift rapid in vivo measurement of skin system. Adapted from Prager W, Steinkraus V. A prospective, rater-blind, randomized comparison of the effectiveness and tolerability of Belotero® Basic versus Restylane® for correction of nasolabial folds. Eur J Dermatol. 2010;20(6):748–752.9

Positive findings were also reported using quantitative scales (Figure 2). Greater changes in WSRS scores (assessed by a blinded rater) were obtained with Belotero^® Basic/Balance than with collagen, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks after injection (P<0.01).³⁶ These results were globally confirmed by the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) scores and the visual analog scale fill state scores (Table 4).³⁶ Lower scores on Merz Aesthetics Scales were obtained at 4 weeks than at baseline with Belotero^® Basic/Balance, Restylane^®, and Juvéderm^® Ultra 3, with no statistically significant differences between fillers.³⁷

Figure 2 Change in nasolabial fold severity with Belotero® Basic/Balance treatment, re-treatment, and optional touch-ups. Notes: In Prager et al’s study,37 fold severity was rated using the Merz Aesthetics Scales at baseline and at 1, 6, 9, and 12 months. In Narins et al’s study,35,36 fold severity was rated using the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale at baseline and at 24, 32, 48, 72, and 96 weeks. Baseline is before the injection. Data from Narins et al,35 Narins et al,36 and Prager et al.37 Abbreviation: t-u, touch-up allowed.

Regarding treatment longevity, the fold severity scores were still lower than at baseline for Belotero^® Basic/Balance, Restylane^®, and Juvéderm^® Ultra 3 up to 12 months after injection (1.5 or 1.6 vs 2.3 at baseline, respectively).³⁷ In the open-label 18-month extension study, with re-treatment at 24 weeks and optional touch-up injections thereafter, treatment effects persisted without re-treatment for at least 48 weeks in 80.2% of patients, both with Belotero^® Basic/Balance and collagen. The average time (± standard deviation) between injections during the extension study was 37.0±15.6 weeks with Belotero^® Basic/Balance and 30.9±13.6 weeks with collagen.³⁵ Based on these data, the effects of Belotero^® Basic/Balance treatment of NLFs seem to persist for 8–12 months.

In a large-scale uncontrolled prospective study conducted in 114 patients who underwent NLF filling, treatment success was obtained in 100% of patients after injection, 91% at 12 weeks, and 81% at 24 weeks (Table 4).³³ Treatment success was defined as an improvement on the WSRS of 1 point or more, which was considered clinically relevant.

These positive findings, which were obtained in a majority of Caucasian patients with Fitzpatrick skin type II or III, were confirmed in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI (n=93), also for the filling of NLFs (Table 4).³⁴

Other skin areas/indications

In 49 patients who had injection of Belotero^® Basic/Balance in the infraorbital hollow, an improvement in hollowness of at least 1 point was observed in 76.1% of patients at 2 months, an improvement which was maintained in 87% (27 out of 31) of patients at 10 months.⁴⁰ In 40 patients who were injected Belotero^® Basic/Balance in the tear trough, the average improvement in fold severity at 2–3 weeks was 1 point, and the average treatment longevity was 10.1±2.4 months.⁴¹

Both studies indicate that the injection of Belotero^® Basic/Balance in facial folds other than NLFs leads to a short-term improvement in fold severity of at least 1 point in the majority of patients, and that treatment longevity approximates at least 10 months, which is relatively similar to what was reported for NLF treatment.

The results of the study on atrophic scars²⁵ are discussed in the “Belotero^® Soft” section. The other studies where Belotero^® Basic/Balance was investigated were focused on the safety of the product,^26,38 the reduction of pain by the addition of lidocaine,^31,32 or did not formally assess the performance of the filler.^39,42

Tolerability and safety of Belotero^® Basic/Balance

Pain

In the 4-week RCT, pain recorded immediately after injection was lower with Belotero^® Basic/Balance than with Restylane^® (both being lidocaine-free). Both treatments scored slightly over 6 on the 11-point scale (Table 3), without a statistically significant difference between treatments.⁹

To further decrease the pain experienced during and immediately after injection, lidocaine was recently added to Belotero^® Basic/Balance (April 2014). Significant pain relief was demonstrated in a split-face trial, with pain intensity going from 5.8±2.1 without lidocaine to 2.8±1.1 with lidocaine, on the 11-point scale (P=0.0001).³² Milder and nonstatistically significant benefits were observed in a parallel-group trial, with mean pain scores (on each side of the face) following injection slightly lower with lidocaine (3.6–3.8 without epinephrine, 3.6–4.6 with epinephrine) than without lidocaine (4.5–5.3).³¹

Adverse events

The majority of adverse events (AEs) related to Belotero^® treatment (ie, product or injection procedure) are injection-site AEs of mild or moderate intensity.³⁶

Based on the studies with a large sample size (>90 patients), the percentage of patients reporting related AEs with Belotero^® ranged from 61% (70 out of 114)³³ to 77.4% (72 out of 93).³⁴

The most frequently reported injection-site AEs were erythema/redness,^{9,33,34,36–41} edema/swelling,^{33,34,36–41} and hematoma/bruising,^9,34,36–41 with an incidence ranging from 2.5% up to >50% (Table 2). Other common injection-site AEs included induration, discoloration, nodule, pruritus, and pain.

Injection-site AEs are generally of short duration, the majority resolving in no more than 7 days.^34,36,38,39 More rarely, these AEs last for 2–3 weeks⁴¹ or several months.⁴⁰ They tend to occur shortly after injection, although cases of delayed swelling (ie, 2 weeks after injection) have been reported.^22,40 Bruising, nodules, swelling, and induration were the injection-site AEs that lasted longer than a week in >10% of the 118 patients enrolled in the 6-month RCT.³⁶

Regarding injection-site bruising, the addition of epinephrine (as a vasoconstrictor agent) to Belotero^® Basic/Balance containing lidocaine did not reduce bruising.³¹

Severe AEs have been reported relatively rarely (Table 4). In the 6-month RCT (n=118), the severe AEs considered related to the procedure with Belotero^® were swelling (6.8%) and bruising (8.5%).³⁶ Of the severe AEs considered related to Belotero^® itself, injection-site nodule was the only event reported in >5% of patients (5.9%).³⁶ A severe AE of pain has also been reported (in one out of 40 patients treated with Belotero^®).³⁷

No treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) and no AEs leading to discontinuation have been reported in any of the reviewed papers presenting safety data on Belotero^® Basic/Balance. There were no reports of persisting nodules, granulomas, or Tyndall effect.³⁸

Belotero^® was also found to be safe in Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI (Table 4).³⁴

No major differences in safety profiles were observed in head-to-head comparisons between Belotero^® Basic/Balance and collagen,³⁶ and other HA fillers (Restylane^® or Juvéderm^®).^9,37

Long-term tolerability

During the 2-year safety follow-up in 13 patients treated with either Belotero^® Soft or Basic/Balance, no delayed AEs and no allergic reactions were reported.²⁶

Repeated Belotero^® injections over time were also well tolerated, with no inflammatory reactions or granulomas reported.^26,35 In the open-label extension study on correction of NLFs, where repeat injections were given over an 18-month follow-up period, injection-site bruising was the only AE that was considered related to Belotero^®.³⁵ The measurement of HA antibodies revealed that 86.1% of patients (n=79) had no detectable anti-HA IgG antibodies and 100% had no anti-HA IgE antibodies.³⁵ Only three patients had positive anti-HA titers, but only one of them showed an increase from pre- (<400 ng/mL) to posttreatment (3,487 ng/mL). The authors concluded that Belotero^® has little potential for immunogenic reactions.³⁵

As a comparison, a similar study had been done in 425 patients who received Restylane^® and/or Perlane^® (manufactured with NASHA^®).⁴³ All anti-NASHA^® IgE tests were negative. Serologically, 91.8% (n=390) of patients were negative for anti-NASHA^® IgG. One patient had a four-fold increase in anti-Restylane^® IgG after injection but reported no AEs other than headache on the day after injection.⁴³

Patients’ and investigators’ satisfaction with Belotero^® Basic/Balance

In the 6-month RCT vs collagen, Belotero^® Basic/Balance was preferred to collagen by ~80% of the patients (n=107) and five out of six investigators (in particular due to its storage, handling, and comfort and design of its syringe).³⁶ The patients’ satisfaction rate was higher with Belotero^® Basic/Balance (78.2%) than with collagen (65.1%, P<0.001).³⁶

The results were more equivocal when comparing the patient’s satisfaction with different HA fillers at 4 weeks.³⁷ In a two-arm split-face trial, approximately half the patients found both fillers acceptable or did not state a preference (13 out of 20 in Arm A, five out of 20 in Arm B). Among those who had a preference, five out of 20 (25%) patients preferred Belotero^®, while two out of 20 (10%) preferred Restylane^® in Arm A, and eight out of 20 (40%) preferred Belotero^®, while seven out of 20 (35%) preferred Juvéderm^® Ultra 3 in Arm B (Table 4).

Belotero^® Hydro

Belotero^® Hydro, in contrast to the other Belotero^® fillers, is a non-crosslinked product (Table 1). It is indicated for skin hydration, as well as improvement of skin elasticity and firmness. This product has been tested in one study for the rejuvenation of the periorbital area.⁴⁴

Performance of Belotero^® Hydro

After three monthly injections in the periorbital area, the three investigators and a blinded rater assessed the skin appearance (brightness, texture, and turgor) and rated the improvement using a discrete scale (100%, 90%, 75%, 50%, or 25% improvement, no improvement, or worsening of the skin). In general, the investigators’ ratings ranged from 25% to 50% improvement, while the independent rater considered that more than half the patients showed a 50% improvement. None of the patients had a worsening of the skin appearance.⁴⁴

Tolerability and safety of Belotero^® Hydro

Pain

Approximately 80% of patients reported mild tolerable pain during injection, with only one case of severe pain.⁴⁴ Injection was performed in the superficial dermis with a 30 G needle, using the micropuncture technique (Table 2).

Adverse events

Reported AEs were injection-site AEs, most frequently medium-sized papules, edema, and hematoma (in >70% of patients), and less frequently erythema (in ≤30% of patients), all of which resolved within 7 days. There were no SAEs.

Patients’ and investigators’ satisfaction with Belotero^® Hydro

Two weeks after the third injection (ie, at 2.5 months), the mean score given to Belotero^® Hydro by the patients was 5.9, on a scale from 0 (worst result) to 10 (best result).⁴⁴

Belotero^® Soft

Belotero^® Soft has been tested in four studies, either for facial treatments^26,27,30 or for treatment of atrophic scars.²⁵ Following the first pilot study conducted on Belotero^® Soft,²⁷ a 24-month safety follow-up has been published.²⁶ In all these studies, other Belotero^® dermal fillers were tested (Basic/Balance,^25–27 whole Belotero^® range³⁰), and the results of Belotero^® Soft were pooled with those of other fillers (Table 2).

Performance of Belotero^® Soft

In the pilot study²⁷ and its 24-month safety follow-up²⁶ where patients received facial treatments, the performance of Belotero^® Soft was not formally assessed (Table 4).

In the 12 patients treated for atrophic scars with either Belotero^® Soft or Belotero^® Basic/Balance, the esthetic improvement was rated as good or excellent by 74% of investigators and 100% of patients, 1 week and 1 month after injection (Table 4).²⁵

In the three patients who underwent facial rejuvenation with a sequential approach (botulinum toxin followed by calcium hydroxyapatite a month later and HA filler 2 or 4 weeks later), fold severity improved at almost all treated sites 11–14 days after the last treatment. The injection of Belotero^® (last treatment in the sequential approach) led to further improvement in the esthetic outcomes in six out of eleven treated sites in all three patients.³⁰

Tolerability and safety of Belotero^® Soft

Pain

Pain during injection was rated as mild or moderate by the patients treated for atrophic scars.²⁵

Adverse events

No study reported the exact count of AEs with Belotero^® Soft. Mild erythema immediately after injection has been reported in the study on atrophic scars; however, the event resolved spontaneously within a few hours.²⁵ In the 2-year safety follow-up²⁶ of the pilot study,²⁷ rare bruises have been reported with the 30 G needle, along with short-lasting ­erythema (resolving within 24 hours, also reported by Hasson and Romero²⁵) and very light swelling immediately after injection. Based on these findings, Belotero^® Soft may be injected safely with predictable results in easily swollen and thin skin areas such as the periorbital area (Figure 3). Importantly, no allergic reactions and no granulomas have been reported during the 2-year follow-up. Altogether, these findings suggest that the reactions to Belotero^® Soft were related to the injection procedure rather than the product itself.

Figure 3 Esthetic effect of Belotero® Soft. Notes: A 30-year-old female patient with congenital unilateral (left) upper eyelid hollowness received 0.2 mL of Belotero® Soft in the suborbicularis fibroadipose tissue (pre-septal) layer using a blunt tip cannula to prevent bruising and intravascular injection. The product was spread as a thin layer to avoid swelling and lumps. Photo courtesy of AD Prasetyo.

Patients’ and investigators’ satisfaction with Belotero^® Soft

Following the first sessions of treatment with either Belotero^® Soft or Belotero^® Basic/Balance,²⁷ most of the 13 patients who participated in the safety follow-up had further treatments performed during the 2 following years (on the same area or other areas),²⁶ suggesting a general satisfaction with the procedure.

Belotero^® Intense

Among the five studies that investigated the use of Belotero^® Intense, one was focused on NLFs¹⁹ (the only RCT), two on various facial treatments of deep lines and wrinkles,^28,45 one on two cases of HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy,²⁹ and one on whole-face rejuvenation using a combination offillers.³⁰

Performance of Belotero^® Intense

One RCT using a split-face design has been conducted on Belotero^® Intense, with the HA filler Perlane^® as a comparator (n=20), to treat NLF rated as moderate to severe at baseline.¹⁹

In this 48-week trial, the mean reduction in wrinkle depth at 2, 24, and 48 weeks was significant with both treatments (P<0.05) and was greater (although not statistically significantly) with Belotero^® Intense (-98.1, -76.9, and -57.8 µm, respectively) than with Perlane^® (-69.4, -44.1, and -37.2 µm, respectively), as assessed by skin topography (phase-shift rapid in vivo measurement of skin).

The difference between treatments reached statistical significance when considering the reduction in WSRS at 2 weeks, when assessed by the patient (–49% with Belotero^® Intense vs –36% with Perlane^®, P=0.01). The reduction in WSRS scores was also significant at 24 and 48 weeks, for both fillers (P<0.001).

In a large open-label study (n=149), Belotero^® Intense has been tested, either on its own or after injection of Belotero^® Basic/Balance. In the second case, the procedure is referred to as the “sandwich technique”, which generally describes injections performed in two different depths or more ­(superficial-to-deep dermal injection).²⁸ The assessment of WSRS post-injection, at 2 and 12 weeks confirms the findings of the 48-week RCT. The WSRS score was significantly reduced at all time points (P<0.001), with the lowest value obtained at 2 weeks. The combined results of both studies are presented in Figure 4. The maintenance of the treatment effect over 12 weeks was confirmed by the investigator’s GAIS ratings, with 59.7% and 57.0% of patients considered as much/very much improved at 2 and 12 weeks, respectively.²⁸ The esthetic effect of the filler was rated as good or excellent in 83.3% of patients.

Figure 4 Long-term change in nasolabial fold severity with Belotero® Intense treatment based on the investigators’ rating on the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale. Notes: The difference from baseline was statistically significant at each time point, in both studies (P<0.001). The mean trend shows the average scores when pooling data from the two studies. In Buntrock et al’s study,19 the ratings were performed by a blinded investigator at baseline (ie, before injection) and at 2, 24, and 48 weeks. In Pavicic’s study,28 the ratings were performed by an unblinded investigator at baseline, immediately post-injection, and then at 2 and 12 weeks. In both studies, touch-ups were not allowed. Data from Buntrock et al.19 Adapted from Pavicic T. Efficacy and tolerability of a new monophasic, double-crosslinked hyaluronic acid filler for correction of deep lines and wrinkles. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(2):134–139.28 Abbreviation: WSRS, Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale.

Regarding treatment longevity, mean wrinkle depth and WSRS scores were still lower, and the patient’s satisfaction was still higher, up to 48 weeks (11 months) after injection (P<0.001, Figure 4).¹⁹ A 1-year follow-up study in 28 patients treated on different facial areas also indicated that the esthetic effect of Belotero^® Intense remained clinically relevant for 9–12 months.⁴⁵

Other skin areas/indications

Two patients with HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy were treated with a combination of Belotero^® Basic/Balance and Belotero^® Intense.²⁹ Patients were satisfied with the results; however, they had to undergo injections every 6–12 months to maintain the esthetic outcomes.²⁹

Tolerability and safety of Belotero^® Intense

Pain

In the 48-week split-face RCT, pain after injection was lower with Belotero^® Intense than Perlane^® (3.9 vs 5.0, P=0.01), which were both lidocaine-free.¹⁹ In two patients treated for facial lipoatrophy, pain was reported to be similar between Belotero^® Basic/Balance and Belotero^® Intense.²⁹

Adverse events

Similar to what was reported with Belotero^® Basic/Balance, the majority of the events related to Belotero^® Intense treatment were injection-site AEs of mild or moderate intensity.

In the open-label study including 149 patients, 39 of whom received Belotero^® Basic/Balance after Belotero^® Intense, 85.9% of patients reported AEs immediately after injection, most of which were related to the procedure.²⁸ This incidence dropped to 12.8% at 2 weeks and 3.4% at 12 weeks, illustrating the short-term nature of these events.²⁸

Most common AEs were erythema,^19,28,29 edema,^19,28,29 pain,^19,28,29 bruising,^19,28 (which could be severe¹⁹), and induration,^19,28 with a reported incidence ranging from 21.5% to 63.8%.²⁸ Mild–to-moderate tenderness, nodules, and pruritus have also been reported.¹⁹

No induration, nodules, or granulomas were observed in the two patients treated for HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy.²⁹

Long-term tolerability

Long-term clinical data regarding the tolerability of Belotero^® Intense are currently lacking. In the split-face RCT, both Belotero^® Intense and Perlane^® were well tolerated during the 12 months following a single injection.¹⁹ In the large-scale open-label study, tolerability was rated as poor in only one case (0.7%) and was considered as excellent or good at 3 months in 96.6% of cases.²⁸

Patients’ and investigators’ satisfaction with Belotero^® Intense

The positive findings regarding the performance (mean wrinkle depth and WSRS) and safety of Belotero^® Intense in the 48-week RCT were confirmed by the patient’s satisfaction rate.¹⁹ A higher percentage of patients were satisfied with Belotero^® Intense than Perlane^® at 24 (62% vs 51%, P=0.002) and 48 weeks (43% vs 33%, P=0.005). For Belotero^® Intense, the patient’s satisfaction at 48 weeks was still higher than at baseline before injection (43% vs 29%), whereas satisfaction came back to baseline value with Perlane^® (33% vs 31%). In accordance with these findings, 80% of patients would repeat their treatment with Belotero^® Intense, vs 65% of patients with Perlane^®.¹⁹

Short-term satisfaction rates were even higher. In the 12-week open-label study, the large majority of investigators and patients (90.6% and 94%) rated their satisfaction as excellent or good.²⁸ In particular, mean investigators’ ratings of syringe handling, injection pressure, filler dispersal, and plasticity ranged from 1.50 to 1.88 (1 being excellent, 2 being good).²⁸

Belotero^® Volume

Belotero^® Volume has been used for treating facial lipoatrophy, associated with either HIV²¹ or age,⁴⁶ or more generally facial soft-tissue volume loss.⁴⁷

Performance of Belotero^® Volume

In patients with HIV-associated lipoatrophy (n=10), the performance of Belotero^® Volume has been objectively assessed using MRI.²¹ One month after injection, the volume of the filler had increased by 331% on average (P<0.0001), and no volume reduction was observed at 12 months. Skin thickness and tissue vascularization also increased during the first 6 months of the study (P=0.01).

Injection of Belotero^® Volume in 20 patients with age-related mid face lipoatrophy⁴⁶ and 56 patients with facial volume loss⁴⁷ led to a marked decrease in the severity of volume loss, which persisted for at least 6 months and for up to 18 months (Figure 5 presents results in the cheeks).

Figure 5 Long-term change in facial volume loss (cheeks) with Belotero® Volume treatment based on the investigators’ rating on the Facial Volume Loss Scale. Notes: The difference from baseline was tested by Micheels et al46 and was statistically significant at each time point (P<0.0001). The mean trend shows the average scores when pooling data from the two studies. In Micheels et al’s study,47 other facial areas than the cheeks were assessed. Only results for cheeks are presented here for comparison with Micheels et al.46 Assessments were performed at baseline, the day following the injection (ie, post-injection), and then at 1, 3, and 6 months. Touch-up at 1 month was performed in two out of 56 patients (3.6%).47 In Micheels et al’s study,46 assessments were performed at baseline, immediately post-injection, and then at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, with an optional follow-up at 18 months (n=11). Touch-up was performed in two out of 20 patients (10%, timing not provided).46 Baseline is before the injection. Reproduced from Micheels P, Ascher B, Beilin G, Elias B, Rummaneethorn P, Sattler G. Evaluation clinique de l’efficacité et l’innocuité d’un acide hyaluronique volumateur de technologie CPM® pour le traitement de multiples zones du visage [Clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a hyaluronic acid volumizer with CPM® technology for the treatment of multiple facial areas]. Réal Thér Dermato-Vénérol. 2014;235(3):2–8. French.47 Micheels P, Vandeputte J, Kravtsov M. Treatment of age-related midface atrophy by injection of cohesive polydensified matrix hyaluronic acid volumizer. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(3):28–34.46 Copyright ©2015 Matrix Medical Communications. All rights reserved.46 Abbreviations: FVLS, Facial Volume Loss Scale; t-u, touch-up allowed.

According to GAIS scores, all patients considered themselves, or were considered by the investigators, as “improved” to “very much improved” at 6 months,^46,47 and even 12 months (Table 4).²¹

Tolerability and safety of Belotero^® Volume

Pain

Pain of mild-to-moderate intensity was reported immediately after injection in six out of 20 patients (30%) treated with Belotero^® Volume.⁴⁶

Adverse events

Mild-to-moderate injection-site AEs were the most common AEs reported with Belotero^® Volume, with an incidence of 20% (two out of 10 patients),²¹ 25% (14 out of 56 patients),⁴⁷ or up to 65% (13 out 20 patients).⁴⁶ The most common AEs after injection were erythema,^21,46,47 pain, and edema.^46,47 Edema persisted for up to 3 months in four cases overall.^46,47 Of these four cases, one patient experienced persistent edema in the orbital margin (following injection of 1.9 mL of product on both sides), which was successfully treated with a hyaluronidase injection.⁴⁶ According to the authors, this event could have been caused by inaccurate injection (too close to the orbital margin), inaccurate remodeling (moving the product too close to the orbital margin), and lymphatic spread or reactive edema.⁴⁶ Cases of transient bruising, itching, and induration have also been reported.^46,47

Patients’ and investigators’ satisfaction with Belotero^® Volume

In accordance with the MRI findings obtained in ten patients with HIV-associated lipoatrophy, patient’s satisfaction significantly improved between baseline and 12 months (+15.5%, P=0.04).²¹ The level of satisfaction was excellent in patients treated for age-related facial lipoatrophy, with 95% (19 out of 20) and 100% (eleven out of eleven) of patients being satisfied 12 and 18 months after injection.⁴⁶ In addition, the investigators reported that the volumizing effect was instantaneous and similar to (50%) or better than (50%) other volumizers such as Juvéderm^® Voluma, Restylane^® SubQ, Radiesse^®, and Teosyal^® Deep.⁴⁷

Discussion

The clinical data on the Belotero^® dermal fillers were reviewed to analyze the performance, tolerability, and safety of these fillers for soft-tissue augmentation and rejuvenation.

The best level of evidence concerns the performance of Belotero^® Basic/Balance, which has been compared to collagen and to other HA fillers in the treatment of NLFs, in split-face RCTs. Belotero^® Basic/Balance was found to be superior to collagen^35,36 and to result in a greater reduction of wrinkle depth than Restylane^® 4 weeks after injection.^9,37 At 12 months, esthetic results were relatively similar between HA fillers.³⁷ The performance of Belotero^® Basic/Balance, which was demonstrated in Caucasian patients in the treatment of NLFs, was confirmed in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI³⁴ and in the treatment of infraorbital hollow and tear trough.^40,41 An improvement of at least 1 point on the severity scale, which is considered as a clinically relevant outcome, can be expected in ~80% of patients, 1–6 months after injection,^33,40,41 and persistence of treatment effect for 8–12 months.^35,37,40,41

Belotero^® Intense was also found to be successful in facial treatments, with good level of evidence obtained for NLF filling.^19,28 When compared to Perlane^®, patient’s satisfaction was higher with Belotero^® Intense, possibly due to the slightly better esthetic results and lower pain.¹⁹

Regarding Belotero^® Volume, a convincing MRI study on the treatment of HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy showed no reduction in the volume of HA at 12 months,²¹ and investigations to further support this filler are ongoing. Further clinical studies are needed to assess the performance of Belotero^® Hydro and Soft. In the case of Belotero^® Volume and Hydro, the lack of published clinical evidence can be explained by the later introduction of these products on the market compared to Belotero^® Basic/Balance.

Regardless of the type of Belotero^® dermal filler, the most common adverse effects noticed were mild-to-moderate erythema, edema, and hematoma, most of which resolved within a few days or weeks and were related to the injection procedure rather than the filler itself. No persisting nodules, granulomas, and tissue necrosis due to intravascular injection have been reported in long-term safety reports.^26,35,38 When injected into the abdominal skin, Belotero^® products (Basic/Balance and Intense) were found to induce the least immunological reaction compared to other fillers (biphasic fillers, monodensified monophasic fillers, or collagen).⁴⁸ Altogether, these findings suggest a good long-term tolerability of these fillers.¹⁰

HA is increasingly used for esthetic purposes due to its excellent water-binding capacity.⁴⁹ With a dry weight of 5.5 mg/mL,⁴⁹ its filling capacity is higher than the one of collagen (dry weight 65 g/mL), the latter no longer playing a role in clinical practice. However, differences exist between HA fillers regarding their viscoelastic properties (cohesivity, elasticity, viscosity, and plasticity), which describe how the filler deforms, flows, and behaves.⁵⁰ Since the natural elasticity or tension of the skin tends to deform and flatten out the implant,⁵⁰ the viscoelastic properties determine the clinical effects of the filler.^5,11,50

Belotero^® dermal fillers present with a unique balance between elasticity and viscosity, which correlates with the soft, flowing qualities of these fillers.^17,51 When compared to other fillers such as Restylane^®, Juvéderm^® Ultra 3/Ultra 4/Voluma, or Teosyal^® Deep Line/Ultra Deep, the Belotero^® fillers provide a “smoother” esthetic effect.^17,51

This effect is due to the homogeneous tissue distribution of the filler intradermally, as demonstrated on ultrasound images^22–24 and by histology.^{11,12,23,24,48} When injected into the middle layer of the reticular dermis, Belotero^® Basic/­Balance (monophasic polydensified gel) distributes uniformly throughout the reticular dermis, filling the spaces between collagen bundles.¹² In contrast, Restylane^® (biphasic gel) showed large pools of HA in the mid dermis and subcutaneous tissue, while Juvéderm^® Ultra 3 (monodensified monophasic gel) remained within the dermis but retained aggregation characteristics.¹² Scanning electron ­microscopy was used to study the localization and ultrastructure of the HA polymers in dermal fillers.⁵² The HA polymers appeared as a fibrous network structure suspended in an aqueous medium. Belotero^® Balance presented as the filler with the most uniform distribution, followed by Juvéderm^® Ultra and Restylane^®. Whereas no discrete particles could be detected in Belotero^® Balance and Juvéderm^® Ultra, Restylane^® showed particles of irregular size embedded in a diffuse network.⁵²

The viscoelastic properties of Belotero^® Basic/Balance allow injecting the filler into the superficial layer of the reticular dermis, by using the “blanching technique” without producing any Tyndall effect.²⁴ This technique is characterized by the temporary blanching of the injected area (for ~10 minutes), due to the transparent appearance of the gel as a result of its proximity to the skin surface.²⁴ A very close multipuncture approach is required, with a 30 G needle or finer, rather than the conventional retrograde approach used for HA fillers injected in the mid and deep dermis. Homogeneous tissue integration of HA, along with mild-to-no inflammation, was seen after injection of small volume of Belotero^® Basic/Balance (0.2 mL) using this technique.^23,24 Thanks to the small volume of filler injected per wrinkle, many areas can be treated with high effectiveness, high patient satisfaction, and little-to-no risk of Tyndall effects.²⁴

Another distinct feature of the Belotero^® dermal fillers is the presence of high-density and low-density zones in the gel, as a result of the CPM^® technology.¹⁶ Similar to Restylane^®, Perlane^®, and the Juvéderm^® range of products, the HA in Belotero^® dermal fillers is crosslinked using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. However, the Belotero^® products differ from most other HA fillers by the addition of another crosslinking step which stretches the matrix obtained during the first step and adds more HA strands, thereby continuing the crosslinking process without the addition of further 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. As a result, the matrix combines higher and lower crosslinking densities of HA. This characteristic allows the filling of deeper but also smaller, finer wrinkles,³⁷ contributing to the homogeneous intradermal distribution of the material.^3,11,53 In the meantime, the cohesivity of the matrix allows the gel to stay intact.

Clinical data indicate that treatment longevity is similar between HA fillers, with similar fold severity scores obtained with Belotero^® Basic/Balance, Restylane^®, and Juvéderm^® Ultra 3 at 12 months (1.5–1.6),³⁷ and with Belotero^® Intense and Perlane^® at 48 weeks (ie, 11 months; 2.7–2.8).¹⁹ These findings are reinforced by in vitro investigations, showing that Belotero^® is similarly¹⁶ or less⁵⁴ degraded by ­hyaluronidase than other HA fillers. The clinical outcomes at 6, 12, or 18 months are more meaningful, since short-term outcomes at 2–4 weeks may be confounded by the edema and bruising caused by the procedure.

The viscoelastic properties of the fillers affect not only the performance and longevity of treatment but also the tolerability and safety of the products. The viscoelastic properties of Belotero^® dermal fillers allow for a low and even injection pressure, which is thought to decrease pain and other AEs.⁴⁹ However, pain during and immediately after injection remains a common side effect of any HA filler. To address this issue, the Belotero^® dermal fillers – except Belotero^® Hydro – now come with or without lidocaine. In a split-face trial in 29 patients, the addition of lidocaine led to a 3-point decrease in the average pain score, on a 10-point scale.³² Of note, the density of nociceptors is higher in the upper dermis compared to the deeper dermis, which could explain the pain that patients tend to experience with the blanching technique.³²

In general terms, Belotero^® dermal fillers showed a safety profile that was slightly better than collagen³⁶ and relatively similar to other HA fillers tested in split-face RCTs.^9,19,37

The adverse effects reported with Belotero^® dermal fillers are those commonly seen with other fillers (erythema, edema, ecchymosis).³⁸ Bruising tends to be more common when treating areas with a high density on blood vessels. Despite being considered as a potential side effect,²⁷ no Tyndall effect has been reported with Belotero^® dermal fillers, including in the large-scale studies (>90 patients).^{28,33,35–37,39} The use of hyaluronidase to treat an AE was reported in only one patient treated with Belotero^® Volume and who experienced persistent edema in the orbital margin.⁴⁶ This event could have been caused by inaccurate injection, inaccurate remodeling, or lymphatic spread.

The relatively high incidence of nodules reported by Narins et al in their 6-month RCT (33.1% of patients vs 55.1% with collagen; Table 4)³⁶ contrasts with the absence of nodules after re-treatment and touch-ups during the 2-year follow-up,³⁵ and the absence of nodules in the majority of published studies. Reasons for these findings are unclear. They may be due to the inconsistent definition of nodules and granulomas in the literature,⁵⁵ or to different injection techniques, since nodules are frequently caused by an incorrect technique.

Repeated injections of Belotero^® dermal fillers seem to be well tolerated.^{26,29,35,40,44} These findings are consistent with the measurement of HA antibodies, suggesting little potential for immunogenic reactions following Belotero^® injection,³⁵ and with histological findings.^11,23,24,48 When injected into the abdominal skin, Belotero^® products (Basic/Balance and Intense) induced a histomorphological reaction free of inflammation, whereas other dermal fillers (Restylane^®, Perlane^®, Juvéderm^® Ultra 3 and 30 HV, Surgiderm^® 24 XP and 30, Teosyal^® Global Action and Deep Lines) provoked varying, predominantly slight-to-moderate degrees of chronic inflammation.⁴⁸ Nevertheless, these data were collected over a 30-day period. Long-term tolerability data, especially regarding the risk of delayed immune-related AEs,^56,57 are therefore needed.

The practitioners showed high levels of satisfaction with Belotero^® Basic/Balance,³⁶ Intense,²⁸ and Volume,⁴⁶ in particular regarding the ease of use of these fillers.^28,36 Similarly, the patients’ satisfaction rate with the different Belotero^® dermal fillers ranged from 60% to 94%,^19,28,36,46 with a majority of patients returning for further treatments.^26,38 These satisfaction rates are likely explained by the esthetic effects of the fillers combined with their good tolerability.

Clinical evidence indicates sustainable esthetic effects, good safety profile, and long-term tolerability of the Belotero^® dermal fillers, with the best level of evidence supporting Belotero^® Basic/Balance and Intense. Treatment effects are immediate and last for ~6–12 months, depending on the filler. Patient’s satisfaction was shown to be high across fillers, which could be explained by the excellent tissue integration of the material combined with a good safety profile and reasonable level of pain during and immediately after injection. There were no reports of SAEs related to the product or the injection procedure, and no reports of Tyndall effect. Belotero^® Basic/Balance and Soft offer the possibility of injecting in the superficial layer of the dermis using the blanching technique. More studies would be needed on the Belotero^® dermal fillers more recently introduced on the market.

Acknowledgments

Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, provided financial support for the manuscript preparation and gratefully acknowledges Scinopsis Medical Writing for their assistance. None of the authors received any financial support for the writing of this manuscript. Written patient consent was obtained for the use of the photos in Figure 3.

Disclosure

Dr Prasetyo is a consultant and sits on advisory boards for Allergan and Merz Pharmaceuticals, and has received grants, honoraria, and travel support for giving lectures from Allergan, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Merz Pharmaceuticals. Dr Prager is a lecturer and researcher for Allergan, Beiersdorf, Cynosure, Galderma, Lumenis, Merz Pharmaceuticals, and Skinceuticals. Dr Rubin is a consultant for Merz Pharmaceuticals. Dr Nikolis is a consultant and speaker for Allergan, Galderma, and Merz Pharmaceuticals. Dr Moretti has no conflicts of interest to declare in this work.

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