Ultrasound Imaging of Facial Vascular Neural Structures and Relevance to Aesthetic Injections: A Pictorial Essay
Wei-Ting Wu,
Ke-Vin Chang,
Hsiang-Chi Chang,
Chen-Hsiang Kuan,
Lan-Rong Chen,
Kamal Mezian,
Vincenzo Ricci,
Levent Özçakar
Affiliations
Wei-Ting Wu
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei 10845, Taiwan
Ke-Vin Chang
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei 10845, Taiwan
Hsiang-Chi Chang
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407219, Taiwan
Chen-Hsiang Kuan
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10048, Taiwan
Lan-Rong Chen
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei 10845, Taiwan
Kamal Mezian
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
Vincenzo Ricci
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Levent Özçakar
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara 06100, Turkey
The facial and submental regions are supplied by complicated neurovascular networks; therefore, facial aesthetic injections may be associated with serious adverse events such as skin necrosis and blindness. Pre-injection localization of neurovascular structures using high-resolution ultrasound can theoretically prevent unexpected complications. Therefore, a systematic protocol that focuses on these facial neurovascular structures is warranted. In this pictorial essay, we discuss the sonoanatomy of facial and submental neurovascular structures and its relevance to aesthetic injections. Moreover, we have highlighted the mechanisms underlying potential neurovascular injuries during aesthetic injections.
