Characterization of Particles From Collagen Bio‐Stimulating Materials Used in Facial Filling Procedures

The aim of this study was to characterize the calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) particles present in collagen bio-stimulating materials used in facial rejuvenation procedures. Five collagen bio-stimulating materials were evaluated: Radiesse, Rennova Diamond, HarmonyCa, Victalab Bio-stimulator, and Optimus Bio-stimulator. One gram of each material was successively immersed in water to remove the organic part (carboxymethyl cellulose) until the supernatant was clear. Particle morphology and composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Radiesse showed particles with homogeneous distribution, spherical shape, and size between 24 and 38 μm. Rennova Diamond and HarmonyCa had a spherical shape and varied sizes, between 12-62 μm and 22-51 μm, respectively. Victalab and Optimus showed irregular particles, sharp angles, and sizes between 3-93 μm and 4-57 μm, respectively. FTIR analyzes showed that all materials presented CaHA with similar composition. It can be concluded that the collagen bio-stimulator materials presented different inorganic contents in terms of size and morphology.