Discussion
NLFs, Erythema, erythema
ADVERSE REACTIONS, ERYTHEMA, ERYTHEMA, ADVERSE REACTION
The aging process reduces the number of fibroblasts in the dermis and their ability to synthesize collagen and elastinIn the present study, the HA group demonstrated a significant volume improvement immediately after the HA injection and at the 1-month follow-up compared with baseline (In our study, most patients in the HA group had clinical improvements at the 1-month follow-up (50%) compared with baseline. However, no changes were detected at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The autologous fibroblast group showed improvements only at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups.Earlier investigations found that HA fillers in NLFs can show clinical results 1 month after injection, with satisfaction maintained at 6 monthsMore autologous fibroblast patients than HA patients reported improvements in their NLFs at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. This finding is similar to the results of another study. It found that 81.6% of the patients treated with autologous fibroblasts demonstrated continued therapeutic benefits even at the 12-month follow-upOther novel autologous fibroblast combinations have been formulated to produce a faster onset of results with more prolonged clinical efficacy. For instance, Jiang et al. combined autologous fibroblasts and keratin as a soft tissue filler. The researchers found that 90% of their patients had significant NLF improvements at the 1-month follow-up. In addition, the improvements were maintained in 93.8% of cases at the 24-month follow-upRegarding adverse reactions in the present work, we had 1 patient in the autologous fibroblast group who experienced mild transient erythema. The condition resolved spontaneously within a day. Erythema is a commonly reported adverse reaction among patients injected with autologous fibroblastsCurrently, fibroblast injections are indicated for the treatment of NLFs. Autologous fibroblast treatment of NLFs is a promising option for patients. As autologous fibroblasts are not volume fillers, they are ideal for treating fine lines. On the other hand, possible disadvantages of autologous fibroblasts over HA fillers are their additional costs (which can be as high as 4 times when comparing to 1 cc of HA fillers) and the long lead time needed to harvest and culture the fibroblasts.Our study was limited by its small sample size, and the follow-up duration might not be long enough to determine the maximum efficacy of the treatment. We recommend that further studies be conducted with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups to establish the longevity of autologous fibroblast injection therapy.