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In Vivo Models for the Study of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: A Review

  • Review
  • Non-Surgical Aesthetic
  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler application is one of the most frequent minimally invasive aesthetic procedures used worldwide. Its properties and characterization, performance, effects in other tissues, and response to complication treatments have been studied in several animal models. This review aims to categorize animal models considering the advantages and disadvantages regarding the purpose of the study.

Methods

Literature research was made using MEDLINE via PubMed by two reviewers using keywords “hyaluronic acid” “filler” and “animal model”. Full-text articles published in English and with an in vivo animal model were included for data extraction.

Results

The rat model was the most common animal used to evaluate properties or characteristics and degradation of HA fillers. Rabbits were preferred for evaluating HA embolism treatments; however, anatomical names of the arteries differ in some studies. Mice and rats used as vascular occlusion model are challenging due to the size of the vessels and viscosity of the filler.

Conclusion

There is a wide variability of options of in vivo animal models to evaluate HA fillers. The animal characteristics, laboratory resources, and HA properties should be considered in accordance with the objective of the study, when choosing the ideal model.

Level of Evidence III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Author notes

  1. Yolanda Salinas-Alvarez and Alejandro Quiroga-Garza have contribute equally to this manuscript and should both be considered in the position of first author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Ave. Madero y Aguirre Pequeño, Col. Mitras Centro, s/n, Col. Mitras Centro, C.P. 64460, Monterrey, Mexico

    Yolanda Salinas-Alvarez, Alejandro Quiroga-Garza, Sandra Sabrina Rojo-Garza, Guillermo Jacobo-Baca, Santos Guzman-Lopez & Rodrigo Enrique Elizondo-Omaña

  2. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Delegación Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico

    Alejandro Quiroga-Garza

  3. Histology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico

    Adolfo Soto-Dominguez, Arnulfo Villanueva-Olivo & Roberto Montes-de-Oca-Luna

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  1. Yolanda Salinas-Alvarez
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Correspondence to Rodrigo Enrique Elizondo-Omaña.

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Salinas-Alvarez, Y., Quiroga-Garza, A., Soto-Dominguez, A. et al. In Vivo Models for the Study of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: A Review. Aesth Plast Surg 47, 1185–1191 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03212-y

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