Facetem CaHA Filler Shows Distinct Microsphere Morphology and Rheology
Key Takeaways
- A laboratory study characterized the morphology, mineral composition, sedimentation, extrusion, and rheology of Facetem, a calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) dermal filler with a lattice-pore microsphere surface.
- Facetem microspheres had a mean diameter of 34.60 μm and showed higher circularity and roundness and fewer particles smaller than 20 μm compared with Radiesse.
- Rheological behavior varied with dilution and diluent type, while the authors cautioned that phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) findings should not be interpreted as evidence of in vivo degradation.
A calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) dermal filler manufactured with Lattice Pore Formation technology demonstrated a consistent microsphere population, organized surface architecture, and diluent-dependent rheological properties in a laboratory analysis published in Journal of Functional Biomaterials.
Investigators evaluated Facetem (marketed as DCLASSY in the Republic of Korea) and used Radiesse as a comparator for selected morphology and sedimentation assessments. The study specifically looked at microsphere geometry, surface morphology, mineral composition, extrusion, sedimentation, and rheological behavior for multiple dilution conditions.
CaHA Microsphere Morphology and Rheology
Facetem microspheres had a mean particle diameter of 34.60 μm. Compared with Radiesse, Facetem demonstrated greater circularity (0.95 vs 0.88) and roundness (0.96 vs 0.85), and a lower aspect ratio. Particles smaller than 20 μm accounted for 2.10% of Facetem particles compared with 14.50% for Radiesse.
Scanning electron microscopy showed micrograin domains forming a lattice-pore surface. After 12 weeks of incubation in PBS, surface morphology changed while the overall spherical contour remained recognizable. Mineral analysis found that hydroxylapatite comprised 99.09% of the mineral phase, with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 1.67.
“Facetem demonstrated a consistent microsphere population, an organized lattice-pore surface, hydroxylapatite stoichiometry, and diluent-dependent rheology,” the authors wrote. “The integrated analysis defines its physicochemical profile; the PBS findings should be interpreted as morphological stability under non-biological buffer conditions rather than in vivo degradation.”
Source
Hong G, et al. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 2026. Doi:10.3390/jfb17090476