Barbed Polydioxanone Sutures for Face Recontouring: Six-Month Safety and Effectiveness Data Supported by Objective Markerless Tracking Analysis.

<bold>Background: </bold>Barbed polydioxanone (PDO) sutures allowing for minimally invasive skin lifting are broadly and increasingly used in aesthetic dermatology.<bold>Objectives: </bold>To describe utilization of diverse barbed PDO sutures for aesthetic facial corrections in Caucasian patients, to evaluate long-term safety and to demonstrate effectiveness in skin tightening, redefinition of facial contours, and tissue elevation.<bold>Methods: </bold>A retrospective chart review of patients routinely treated with barbed PDO sutures on face was performed. Aesthetic improvement was evaluated at 6-, 12- and 24-week posttreatment by the treating physician, patients, and an independent photographic reviewer. Patient's satisfaction with treatment outcome was evaluated. Procedure effects were also objectively measured by markerless tracking analysis.<bold>Results: </bold>Sixty patients were treated with a total of 388 barbed sutures in various anatomical areas and followed-up for 24 weeks. At Week 24, the aesthetic improvement rate was 80% to 100% (depending on the evaluator), skin movements related to pre-treatment photographs showed significant changes across several different anatomical regions, and 97% of patients were satisfied with the overall treatment outcome. Transient, mild, and short-lasting adverse events, mostly pain and hematoma, occurred in 15% of patients.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Barbed PDO sutures are safe and highly effective for aesthetic corrections, with results lasting for at least 24 weeks.<bold>Level Of Evidence:4: </bold> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]