European evaluation of a new hyaluronic acid filler incorporating lidocaine.

[BACKGROUND] A new dermal filler has been developed with preincorporated lidocaine for the treatment of moderate/severe wrinkles.

[AIMS] Injector and patient evaluation of comfort and aesthetic results obtained with a new hyaluronic acid filler incorporating lidocaine (HAL) following treatment of nasolabial folds.

[PATIENTS/METHODS] Three thousand five hundred and sixty-six patients were recruited by 485 injectors across 16 countries. All patients had previously received facial fillers but now required further treatment. All patients received the new hyaluronic acid filler incorporating lidocaine.

[RESULTS] Injector assessment of HAL was that it was very easy to inject in > 75% of patients, and postinjection sculpting/massaging was very easy in most patients (> 70%). Both injectors and patients reported low patient pain levels, with patients experiencing less pain during all stages of the HAL injection procedure compared to previous dermal fillers. Over 95% of injectors rated the aesthetic effect of HAL as "excellent" or "good," with 99.1% stating they would recommend treatment to a colleague and 99.4% recommending treatment to other patients. More than 90% of patients were happy with the treatment, and 99% would recommend HAL to friends.

[CONCLUSIONS] The new hyaluronic acid filler incorporating lidocaine provides a more comfortable injection experience and improved aesthetic result for most patients compared with other dermal fillers used previously.