In our review article on dermal fillers, we wrote that there are two main types of fillers: hyaluronic acid-based fillers and PLA-based fillers.
Fillers based on hyaluronic acid replenish missing volumes and remove wrinkles by saturating the skin with moisture. Therefore, their duration of action is short - no more than 4-5 months. PLA-based fillers have a much more pronounced and long-lasting effect (up to 2 years!). This is because PLA fillers stimulate the formation of the skin's own collagen framework. This framework takes on a supporting function after the PLA has degraded. For this reason, the effect of PLA-based fillers does not develop immediately, but lasts much longer.
The best known PLA filler on the American market is Sculptra, manufactured by Q-Med AB, Sweden. Today, however, PLA-fillers made in South Korea are becoming increasingly popular. And judging by doctors' reports, they show significantly better results because they have implemented the latest developments in the field of injectable cosmetology.
In this article we will compare the efficacy and characteristics of three dermal PLA-fillers: Swedish Sculptra, and two South Korean products - AestheFill from Regen Biotech and BeauX and BeauY from Meamo.
Table of Contents
What's in the bottle?
The active ingredient in all three products is the same – it’s polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has a long history of use in the food industry and medicine. It is a biodegradable compound that eventually breaks down into water and carbon dioxide in the body. It is used, for example, to make suture material for surgical procedures. Polylactic acid is recognized as safe for humans and is recommended for use by the FDA.
However, the three fillers under discussion differ significantly in the composition of the excipients.
The main difference with Sculptra is that each bottle containing 150 mg of active ingredient (PLA) also contains 127.5 mg of mannitol. Mannitol is an alcohol used in surfactants, resins, varnishes and as a sweetener - food additive E421. It is also used as a medicine to treat glaucoma and high intracranial pressure. And like any drug, mannitol has its limitations:
- Side effects of mannitol include dehydration, worsening of heart function and kidney problems.
- It is not known whether mannitol is safe to use during pregnancy.
- Mannitol is contraindicated in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Sculptra, AestheFill and BeauY contain carboxymethylcellulose as a thickening agent.
However, Sculptra contains almost twice as much – 90 mg per 150 mg of PLA. AestheFill contains only 50 mg of carboxymethylcellulose. BeauY also contains only 50 mg of it and in BeauX it has been replaced by hyaluronic acid. As a result, the duration of BeauX is shorter – only 12-14 months. However, this product is perfect not only for removing wrinkles, but also for revitalizing dry skin.
In total, one vial of Sculptra, which contains 150 mg of the main active ingredient (PLA), contains almost 220 mg of excipients. And in AestheFill, BeauY and BeauY - only 50 mg per 150 mg PLA.
Particle shape
In all three fillers, PLA is present in the form of microparticles.
But in Sculptra, the PLA particles are shapeless. As a result, they lie randomly between the layers of skin cells, and collagen formation on them is uneven. In addition, the irregular shape of the particles can cause the injection needle to become blocked.
In AestheFill, the PLA particles are spherical. They do not clog the needle and ensure uniform collagen formation.
The BeauX and BeauY fillers take this approach a step further. PLA microspheres are produced using Smart Solid Phase Delivery System™ technology. Thanks to Smart SPDS™, the microspheres have the same size (deviation of no more than 10%) and an almost perfect spherical shape. As a result, BeauX and BeauY not only offer all the benefits of AestheFill, but also a high particle density, the most uniform distribution in the tissue and a consistent biodegradation rate.
Area of application
Sculptra injections are used to treat wrinkles and lack of volume in both the face and body. However, it is obvious that the tissue density of the face and body is very different. It is impossible to create a universal filler that is ideal for all cases. Therefore, the result of using a non-specialized Sculptra filler will be just as average.
AestheFill is intended for use on the face only. For use on the body, Regen Biotech produces PowerFill. PowerFill is a full analogue of AestheFill in composition, but has larger PLA microspheres.
BeauX and BeauY can be used on the face, neck, décolleté, hands, etc. However, the specificity of these fillers lies in the way the solution is prepared for injection. These details are described below in the subsection “Preparation Features”.
Preparation Features
It takes two hours to prepare Sculptra injection solution from powder. The powder is reconstituted by adding 5 ml of sterile water for injection to the vial.
Preparation of the finished form of AestheFill and PowerFill takes only 10 to 30 minutes. 7 ml of injection water and 2 ml of lidocaine must be added to the vial. This ensures that there is no discomfort when the filler is injected.
The preparation of BeauX and BeauY takes about 20 minutes. If you want to apply dermal filler for the face, 6-8 ml of injection water + 2 ml of lidocaine should be added to the BeauX bottle, and 8-10 ml of injection water + 2 ml of lidocaine should be added to the BeauY bottle. If you are preparing a solution for injecting filler into the neck, décolletage, hands, etc., you should use three times as much water: 18-25 ml for BeauX and 25-30 ml for BeauY.
The price per vial
The cost per vial of Sculptra in the United States can range from $800 to $1,200 or more.
The cost per vial of AestheFill ranges from $220 to $300 and one vial of PowerFill ranges from $330 to $400.
Our own exclusive BeauX and BeauY fillers, which give excellent results, can be purchased by Meamo Shop customers for $129 per vial.
Why such a difference in efficacy and price?
Sculptra is one of the first commercially available PLA-based dermal fillers. It was developed more than two decades ago. It underwent certification before entering the US market – a long, complicated and very expensive bureaucratic procedure.
A lot of time has passed since Sculptra’s inception and technology has not stood still. AestheFill has incorporated many improvements, and BeauX and BeauY are the result of the most modern scientific developments in the field of injectable cosmetology. But incorporating all these innovations into the already certified Sculptra means that the whole bureaucratic procedure will have to start from the beginning. Naturally, manufacturers do not want to waste time and money on this.
The certification system in South Korea is very different from the American one. South Korea has its own equivalent of the American FDA – the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). All products, including the dermal fillers sold at Meamo Shop, have been rigorously tested by the MFDS and are safe when used by professional doctors and certified injector beauticians. But at the same time, high-tech cosmetology is one of the drivers of South Korea’s economy. Fast and inexpensive certification is therefore a deliberate economic policy of the state. As a result, South Korean companies now offer injectable cosmetics that cost significantly less, but often deliver much better results.
List of used scientific literature:
- Injectable Poly-l-lactic Acid. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).
- Gao Q., Duan L., Feng X., Xu W. Superiority of poly(l-lactic acid) microspheres as dermal fillers. Chinese Chemical Letters. Volume 32, Issue 1, 2021, Pages 577-582.
- Mannitol. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Medically reviewed on Apr 10, 2024.
- Attenello N.H., Maas C.S. Injectable fillers: review of materials and properties. Facial Plast Surg. 2015;31(1):29-34. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1544924
- Keni S.P., Sidle D.M. Sculptra (injectable poly-L-lactic acid). Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2007;15(1):91-vii. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2006.10.005
- Osmitrol-mannitol injection, solution. DailyMed. 15 November 2018.
- What are Polylactic Acid Dermal Fillers? American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Share this post on social media
Like this post
Copyright © 2024 Meamo Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Contact email: Support@meamo.co
Related Posts
Skinbooster injections – an A to Z guide
Skinbooster injections – an A to Z guide Table of Contents How to use skinboosters: where, how much, how often?
