Jowl Reduction With Deoxycholic Acid

BACKGROUND The study proposes a novel protocol for targeting the jowls using deoxycholic acid (DCA) injections, with emphasis on safety and feasibility of the procedure. METHODS This prospective study was conducted at a cosmetic practice between June 2016 and May 2017. Twelve consecutive patients seeking reduction/improvement in mild/moderate jowl fat were injected with DCA subcutaneously in a predefined circular area 1.0 cm above the mandibular border. Treatment response was assessed using physician-evaluated Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and Subject GAIS. RESULTS Twelve patients (11 women and 1 man) with mild (n = 8) or moderate (n = 4) jowls were treated. After the first treatment, GAIS responses for 24 jowls showed 5 jowls with vast improvement, 15 with moderate improvement, and 4 with no change. After the second session for 5 jowls in 3 patients, GAIS responses showed vast improvement in 4 jowls and moderate improvement in 1. Adverse events included induration (n = 4), bruising (n = 6), numbness (n = 2), pain (n = 5), redness (n = 3), edema (n = 9), and dysphagia (n = 1). CONCLUSION Results of this early experience showed that DCA injections were safe and effective for nonsurgical jowl reduction. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: José Raúl Montes, MD, FACS, FACCS, José Raúl Montes Eyes & Facial Rejuvenation, 735 Ponce de León Avenue, Auxilio Mutuo Medical Tower, Suite 813 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00917, or e-mail: jrmontes@jrmontes.com Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Web site (https://ift.tt/2bw6lgr). Supported by a publication grant from Allergan Inc. A. Chillar is an employee of Cactus Communications, who was funded by Allergan for providing writing and editorial assistance. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters. © 2019 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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