Amniotic Allograft Implantation for Midface Aging Correction: A Retrospective Comparative Study with Platelet-Rich Plasma

Amniotic allografts are becoming more popular for use in soft tissue growth in many areas of medicine because of their immunoprivilege that allows them to proliferate into tissues without rejection by the host. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has crossed over from wide orthopedic uses to the aesthetic market for hair restoration and midface volume replacement, owing, in part, to the minimal risk associated with the procedure and the convenience of in-office application. In addition, growth factors provided by PRP help stimulate collagen synthesis in the aging face. However, the potential recruitment of the patient’s own mesenchymal stem cells to the PRP injection site would produce the most favorable and sustained aesthetic outcome. With the advancement of amniotic allograft procedures, the introduction of live mesenchymal cells of the amniotic membrane into the aging midface could be performed in-office similarly to the PRP treatment. This retrospective chart review compares aspects of the amniotic allograft procedure (office time, level of comfort, and downtime) with the aesthetic results of injection into the midface of those undergoing PRP therapy. Analysis of the changes to midface volume, specifically the Ogee curve, observed in the chronological progression of photographs illustrates aesthetic improvements in both PRP and amnion allograft treatment groups, with changes in the facial grading scale. Less patient downtime and slightly more rapid improvements were noted in the amnion group in comparison with the PRP treatment participants. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.