Facial Skin Laxity, Skin Aging
Conditions
Keywords
Focused ultrasound, High-intensity focused ultrasound, Facial skin laxity, Skin aging, Randomized controlled trial, Split-face study
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if focused ultrasound can improve facial skin laxity in adults. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does focused ultrasound treatment lead to clinically meaningful improvement in facial skin laxity compared with baseline assessments? 2. What treatment-related adverse events occur following focused ultrasound treatment, and how frequently and severely do they occur? Researchers will also compare outcomes between the two sides of the face treated with different focused ultrasound hand-pieces within the same participants to explore potential differences in clinical response and safety using a randomized split-face design. Participants will: Receive a single session of focused ultrasound treatment applied to both sides of the face. Undergo standardized clinical assessments, imaging evaluations, and patient-reported outcome measures at baseline and during follow-up visits. Be monitored for treatment-related adverse events throughout the study period.
Interventions
DEVICEFocused UltrasoundDot Hand-piece (FUS-D)
Focused ultrasound treatment delivered using the dot hand-piece (FUS-D), applied to the contra lateral side of the face during a single treatment session. Treatment parameters follow the predefined study protocol.
DEVICEFocused Ultrasound Micro-focused Hand-piece (FUS-M)
Focused ultrasound treatment delivered using the micro-focused hand-piece (FUS-M), applied to one side of the face during a single treatment session. Treatment parameters follow the predefined study protocol.
Sponsors
The Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
This is a randomized split-face study in which each participant serves as their own control. Different focused ultrasound hand-pieces are randomly assigned to opposite sides of the face within the same participant.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 18 years or older * Male or female participants * Presence of mild to moderate facial skin laxity * Willingness to undergo focused ultrasound treatment of the face * Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent * Willingness to comply with study visits and follow-up assessments
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Severe systemic diseases, including but not limited to significant cardiac, hepatic, renal, or neurological disorders * Active skin infection, inflammation, or open wounds in the treatment area * History of facial cosmetic procedures (including laser treatment, injectable fillers, or energy-based devices) within the past 6 months * Presence of implanted electronic devices or metallic implants in the facial area * Known hypersensitivity or contraindications to focused ultrasound treatment * Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would make the participant unsuitable for study participation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in facial skin laxity from baseline assessed by VISIA skin analysis system | Baseline to 6 months post-treatment | Facial skin laxity will be quantitatively assessed using the VISIA skin analysis system. Skin laxity-related parameters will be measured at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at 1,3, and 6 months post-treatment. Higher values indicate greater skin laxity. The change from baseline at each follow-up time point will be analyzed. |
| Incidence and severity of treatment-related adverse events | From treatment through 6 months post-treatment | Treatment-related adverse events will be recorded and evaluated throughout the study, including the type, frequency, and severity of adverse events following focused ultrasound treatment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Facial skin laxity assessed by VISIA skin analysis system for bilateral facial sides | Baseline to 6 months post-treatment | Differences in facial skin laxity between the two facial sides treated with different focused ultrasound hand-pieces will be evaluated using the VISIA skin analysis system. Skin laxity-related parameters will be measured at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. Higher values indicate greater skin laxity. A randomized split-face comparison within the same participant will be performed. |
| Merz Aesthetic Scale (MAS) score assessed by independent blinded evaluators | Baseline to 6 months post-treatment | Facial laxity will be assessed using the Merz Aesthetic Scale (MAS) based on standardized digital facial photographs. The MAS is a validated 5-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater facial laxity. MAS scores will be assessed by independent blinded evaluators at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. A randomized split-face comparison within the same participant will be performed. |
| Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score assessed by independent blinded evaluators | From treatment through 6 months post-treatment | Overall aesthetic improvement will be assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) based on standardized digital facial photographs. GAIS is a 5-point ordinal scale (Grade 1=Exceptional improvement; Grade 2=Moderate improvement; Grade 3=Slight improvement; Grade 4=No change; Grade 5=Worsening of the condition). Lower scores indicate better aesthetic improvement. GAIS scores will be measured by both participants and independent blinded evaluators immediately post-treatment, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. A randomized split-face comparison within the same participant will be performed. |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed