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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07478198

Study on the Efficacy and Safety of PLLA Injections for Improving Facial Laxity Following GLP-1 Analog Therapy

Following weight loss with GLP-1 receptor agonists, facial skin laxity and sagging have become another concern for some patients. The temples, cheeks, tear troughs, jawline, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds are the most common areas of volume loss or wrinkles after semaglutide treatment. Restoring facial volume after discontinuing weight-loss medications poses a challenge, as the sole use of hyaluronic acid or permanent fillers may lead to a significant number of patients requiring corrective treatment for overfilled facial syndrome.Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) works by releasing low concentrations of lactic acid to stimulate fibroblast-mediated collagen synthesis. Additionally, macrophages participate in the collagen production process triggered by lactic acid, ultimately improving skin laxity. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PLLA injections in addressing facial laxity following GLP-1 analogue therapy.

Enrolling by Invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

30 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Shanghai Punan Hospital of Pudong New District

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults who have received GLP-1 analog therapy and experienced significant weight loss (BMI reduction ≥ 5%).
  • Aged 30 to 60 years, with noticeable facial sagging, and nasolabial folds or marionette lines rated 2 to 4 on the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS).
  • Subjects who have fully understood the clinical trial protocol and associated risks, voluntarily signed the informed consent form, and expressed willingness to undergo facial injection treatment.

Exclusion criteria

  • Known or previous allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the product.
  • Known or previous allergy to local anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine or other amide-type anesthetics).
  • History of severe or multiple allergies, such as severe systemic anaphylactic reactions.
  • Previous surgery (including cosmetic surgical procedures or liposuction), piercings, or tattoos in the area to be treated.
  • Prior tissue filler treatments or contouring in the area to be treated, including the use of any permanent fillers, or any semi-permanent fillers, autologous fat, lifting threads, or permanent implants within 24 months before treatment.
  • Use of any biodegradable facial tissue fillers based on hyaluronic acid or collagen in the area to be treated within 12 months before treatment.
  • Botulinum toxin injections in the area to be treated within 6 months before treatment.
  • Presence of any disease or lesion in or near the area to be treated, such as inflammation, active or chronic infection (e.g., in the oral, head, and neck regions); facial psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, herpes simplex, or herpes zoster; scars or deformities; cancer or precancerous lesions (e.g., actinic keratosis).
  • Past or current active collagen diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, or localized or systemic scleroderma.
  • Predisposition to keloid formation, hypertrophic scarring, or any other abnormal healing.
  • History of bleeding disorders or, in the investigator's judgment, treatment with thrombolytics, anticoagulants, or platelet aggregation inhibitors within a relevant period before treatment.
  • Treatment with chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, immunomodulatory therapies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies), or systemic corticosteroids (inhaled corticosteroids are permitted) within 3 months before treatment.
  • Treatment with topical (below the infraorbital rim) retinoids or corticosteroids within 1 month before treatment, or systemic retinoids within 6 months before treatment.
  • Any medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for inclusion.
  • Other conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, preclude the subject from participating in the study, e.g., subjects who may be unable to avoid other facial cosmetic treatments, subjects deemed potentially unreliable, unreachable, unable to understand study assessments, or with unrealistic expectations regarding treatment outcomes.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing potential not using adequate contraception, or women planning pregnancy during the study period.
  • Subjects planning to undergo any other facial plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures (e.g., laser or chemical peels, microneedling, facelifts, radiofrequency treatments, etc.) below the infraorbital rim during the entire study period.
  • Moderate to severe asymmetry in the midface assessment, i.e., a difference of more than 1 grade in the WSRS ratings between the two sides of the face.
  • Intentional significant weight change (BMI change ≥ 2) during the study period.

Treatment and study plan

PLLA Injection

Device

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) lyophilized powder, after reconstitution with normal saline, is injected into the subcutaneous layer of the face. Three treatment sessions delivered at 4-week intervals.

Primary outcomes

  1. WSRS (Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale) Assessment

    Time frame: At screening, before each treatment session, and at 4, 12, 24 and 48 weeks after the final treatment

    Compare baseline and post-treatment scores to evaluate improvement in nasolabial folds and marionette lines.

    • Score improvement between baseline and post-treatment;
    • Percentage of subjects achieving ≥1-grade improvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. GAIS (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale) Assessment

    Time frame: At 4, 12, 24 and 48 weeks after the final treatment

    Investigator-evaluated and subject-evaluated overall aesthetic improvement post-treatment. Statistics include the proportion of subjects with:

    Grade 1 (very significant improvement), Grade 2 (significant improvement), and Grade 3 (some improvement).

  2. Skin Elasticity

    Time frame: At baseline and 24 weeks post-final treatment

    Skin elasticity changes evaluated using a cutometer

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shanghai Punan Hospital of Pudong New District

Other

Registry information

Acronym: PLLA-GLP-1

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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