Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41454456›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cosmetic dermatology2026

A Prospective Study Comparing the Efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen in the Treatment of Nasolabial Folds.

Chen Huang, Jiaxi Liu, Lei Guo, Qing Liu, Baoqiang Song

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Chen HuangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Jiaxi LiuDepartment of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6358-6788
Lei GuoDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2689-7117
Qing LiuXian Bravou Medical Beauty Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Baoqiang SongDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4771-5201

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHyaluronic acid (HA) is established as the gold standard for nasolabial folds (NLFs) correction. However, its use is frequently associated with transient edema and potential migration. These limitations have spurred investigation into collagen-based fillers as viable alternatives characterized by comparable efficacy and a favorable safety profile.

objectiveThis prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of HA and collagen fillers in NLFs augmentation.

methodsBetween January 2022 and December 2023, 100 patients with moderate to severe NLFs (Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale Grades 2-4) were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive either collagen (n = 50) or HA (n = 50) injections. Treatment protocols employed tailored injection doses according to baseline NLFs severity and indentation depth. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) evaluation of standardized photographs was performed to assess outcomes at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

resultsBaseline characteristics showed no intergroup disparities. Both materials produced similar improvements in NLFs reduction initially and at 3 months. At 6 months, HA maintained significantly greater improvements in NLF dimensions compared with collagen. GAIS scores indicated superior immediate and 3-month aesthetic outcomes with collagen, while HA showed better aesthetic maintenance at 6 months.

conclusionThis study demonstrated comparable short-term efficacy between collagen and HA for NLFs correction. These findings suggest collagen may be a practical alternative for patients seeking rapid correction with minimal downtime, while HA remains superior for long-term correction. Treatment selection should therefore be individualized based on patient preference for immediate improvement or longevity.

trial registrationClinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2500106800.

Indexed as

CollagenCosmetic TechniquesDermal FillersHyaluronic AcidNasolabial FoldSkin AgingAdultEstheticsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCollagenDermal FillersHyaluronic Acidcollagenhyaluronic acidnasolabial fold

Identifiers

PMID41454456
PMCPMC12743174

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.