Autologous Fibroblasts Can Reduce Wrinkles

Age-related loss of collagen and elastin can produce folds and wrinkles. These investigators conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial in 272 patients with very severe nasolabial folds to try the benefits of injectable cultured autologous fibroblasts.

The patients received a series of three treatments 5 weeks apart. Results were assessed on a validated wrinkle scale by evaluators and patients blinded to treatment assignment. Based on the evaluator assessment, 64% of patients treated with fibroblasts versus 36% placebo recipients showed at least a 1-point improvement on the scale after 6 months. Mild injection-related adverse events were comparable in the experimental and placebo groups.