The recent availability of safe volumizing fillers has provided cosmetic physicians with the tools necessary to contour facial features non-surgically and cost-effectively. This review focuses on ...outlining objective parameters necessary for creating a template to maximize each individual's facial beauty. Phi relationships can be approached for all facial features and rely on the establishment of smooth ogee curves in all dimensions. Once goals have been determined and a budget established, a logical syntax is used to create an algorithm for selecting products and procedures. The methodology leads to consistent and pleasing results with a high rate of patient satisfaction.
Injection therapies for cosmetic enhancement, particularly antiaging treatments, are increasingly popular. However, once the needle has penetrated the skin, the injector is "blind" to the depth and ...exact location of the needle tip. Duplex ultrasound use before and after treatment can allow the injector to visualize in real time the individual anatomy, thereby improving and confirming the accuracy of the injections through visualization of both the target layer and the vital structures to be avoided. Previously injected permanent filler treatments can also be visualized. In this way, ultrasound use becomes an important educational tool in promoting "safer" facial injection therapy. It shifts static anatomy to mobile real-time facial anatomy, thereby establishing itself as an invaluable learning tool through follow-up imaging, with subsequent optimization in techniques and patient outcomes.
BACKGROUND:Delayed-onset adverse reactions to hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are uncommon but have received increased attention, particularly with regard to late-onset nodules. Globally, there is a ...need for comprehensive prevention and management strategies.
METHODS:Experts with clinical practices in diverse regions of the world and extensive experience in managing complications related to HA fillers convened to propose and evaluate approaches to prevent delayed-onset adverse reactions after HA filler administration and manage late-onset nodules.
RESULTS:The expert panel agreed to define delayed-onset adverse reactions as those presenting more than 4 weeks posttreatment, with swelling, induration, and nodulation being the most common clinical signs. The panel recommended 5 general key approaches for the prevention of delayed-onset reactions (patient selection, anatomic location of injection/product selection, aseptic technique, injection procedure/filler, and posttreatment care). Strategies recommended for managing late-onset nodules included oral antibiotics, oral steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if needed, hyaluronidase for noninflammatory nodules (recognizing the limitations and regional availability of this treatment), intralesional antibiotics, intralesional immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids and fluorouracil, and surgical excision as a last resort. The panel noted that late-onset nodules may vary in both clinical presentation and etiology, making them challenging to address or prevent, and stressed individualized treatment based on clinical presentation. Regional differences in aseptic protocols, antibiotic selection, and steroid formulations were described.
CONCLUSION:Insights from global experts on approaches to prevent and manage delayed-onset adverse reactions following HA filler administration, including late-onset nodules, support clinicians worldwide in optimizing patient outcomes and safety.
BACKGROUND:A detailed understanding of facial anatomy, specifically the vascular framework, is crucial for delivering safe nonsurgical aesthetic procedures. To date, there is no core document based ...on consensus for the teaching of facial anatomy to aesthetic physicians exists. The aim of this study was to ascertain the most critical anatomical structures for avoiding disastrous complications during nonsurgical aesthetic procedures.
METHODS:After a detailed literature review, Delphi questionnaire was developed listing 154 anatomical structures of the face and neck for consensus review. Thirty-five international experts in surgical and nonsurgical facial aesthetics were invited to complete an online survey designed to rank the relevance of each anatomical element on a Likert scale from 1 (not at all important) to 4 (very important) or 5 (no opinion). Consensus for items included in the core syllabus was predefined as achieving a Cronbach’s α ≥ 0.90 and an agreement score of ≥ 80%.
RESULTS:Thirty-four international experts (97.14%) completed the iterative online Delphi survey. The consensus among the specialists polled was achieved after 1 round of the survey (Cronbach’s α = 0.94). The expert panel reached an agreement score of ≥ 80% on 137 of the 154 anatomical structures listed.
CONCLUSION:The outcome of this Delphi study represents an essential first step in systematizing an evidence-based facial anatomy “Core Syllabus” for the teaching of aesthetic physicians and practitioners. This “Core Syllabus” will act as a blueprint for the educators while crafting a program.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are known for a reliable safety profile, but complications do occur, even serious vascular adverse events.
To improve the treatment outcome after a vascular adverse event with ...use of hyaluronic acid filler treatments.
Duplex ultrasonography is used to detect the hyaluronic acid filler causing the intra-arterial obstruction.
If treated in time, 1 single treatment of ultrasonographically guided injections of hyaluronidase into the filler deposit will prevent skin necrosis.
Because the use of duplex ultrasonography adds extra essential information, its use may become an integral part of the prevention and treatment of injection adverse events.
Abstract
The normal course of aging alters the harmonious, symmetrical, and balanced facial features found in youth, not only impacting physical attractiveness but also influencing self-esteem and ...causing miscommunication of affect based on facial miscues. With this evidence-based paper, the authors aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on the etiology and progression of facial aging by explaining the aging process from the “inside out,” that is, from the bony platform to the skin envelope. A general overview of the changes occurring within each of the main layers of the facial anatomy is presented, including facial skeleton remodeling, fat pad atrophy or repositioning, changes in muscle tone and thickness, and weakening and thinning of the skin. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of specific aging regions by facial thirds (upper, middle, and lower thirds). This review may help aesthetic physicians in the interpretation of the aging process and in prioritizing and rationalizing treatment decisions to establish harmonious facial balance in younger patients or to restore balance lost with age in older patients.
Techniques for the administration of injectable fillers and neuromodulators for facial aesthetic rejuvenation and enhancement continue to evolve. As the number of physicians with limited experience ...in providing aesthetic treatments expands, the need for guidance and training from more experienced injectors has become apparent. The use of a slow, careful, and methodical injection technique is imperative in all treatment settings and for all facial areas. Constant attention to local anatomy, particularly arteries, veins, and nerve bundles, is critical for minimizing complications. This first article of a three-part series addresses techniques and recommendations for aesthetic treatment of the upper face. Traditionally, the upper face has been considered a basic area for treatment with neuromodulators but an advanced area for treatment with fillers. Injectable fillers may be used for temple volumization, eyebrow shaping, and forehead contouring. Neuromodulators are well suited for diminishing the appearance of dynamic facial lines such as forehead, glabellar, and crow's feet lines, and eyebrow lifting and eye-aperture widening. These techniques may be used independently or together, sequentially or concurrently, to address rejuvenation of individual or multiple facial regions. Overall, this series provides a practical framework of techniques for physicians who desire to perform safe and effective aesthetic treatments using a multimodal approach.
After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Process several patient-specific factors before reaching an optimal treatment strategy with appreciation for facial balance. 2. ...Define the advantages and disadvantages of various hyaluronic acid preparations and delivery techniques, to achieve a specific goal. 3. Perform advanced facial rejuvenation techniques adapted to each facial zone, combining safety considerations. 4. Prevent and treat complications caused by inadvertent intraarterial injections of hyaluronic acid.
The growing sophistication and diversity of modern hyaluronic acid fillers combined with an increased understanding of various delivery techniques has allowed injectable filler rejuvenation to become a customizable instrument offering a variety of different ways to improve the face: volume restoration, contouring, balancing, and feature positioning/shaping-beyond simply fading skin creases. As more advanced applications for hyaluronic acid facial rejuvenation are incorporated into practice, an increased understanding of injection anatomy is important to optimize patient safety.
Soft tissue filler augmentation has become increasingly popular due to its perceived ease and impressive results. Unfortunately, although the results are impressive, so are the reported ...complications. This article describes complications specific to peri-oral soft tissue filler injection and then discusses evidence-based, anatomic prevention and treatment guidelines.
The authors aimed at providing an overview of the complications associated with peri-oral soft tissue filler. Hyaluronic Acid (H.A) fillers may have devastating complications which are oft undisclosed or published. This narrative review aims to describe the various complications and provide preventative strategies.
Given the paucity of prospective, randomized clinical trials on the subject and in light of complication underreporting, the authors believe that efficacy and safety literature on the subject is lacking. Injectors must rely on the one strength which exists in the lip literature to date, that is anatomy. The basis of all successful injections is a mandatory understanding of normal as well as variations of vital structures in an area, combined with meticulous injection techniques, deposition of small aliquots of product and the ability to recognize unwanted adverse events early enough to act on them.
Autologous fat is known for a reliable and natural safety profile, but complications do occur-even serious vascular adverse events.
The authors sought to examine doppler-ultrasound (DUS) imaging for ...the harvesting and subsequent facial implantation of autologous fat tissue.
All patients underwent lipofilling treatment of the temporal fosse of the face. DUS examination was performed for preprocedural vascular mapping and imaging of previously injected (permanent) fillers. In addition, the injection of autologous fat was performed DUS-guided.
Twenty patients (all female; mean age, 57.9 years; range, 35-64 years). DUS examination showed that 16 of the 20 patients (80%) had been injected with resorbable or nonresorbable fillers elsewhere in the past. The temporal artery could be visualized and avoided in all cases. An average of 1.1 cc of autologous fat was injected in the temporal fossa per side. One case of edema and nodules was described, but no other adverse events were reported.
The utilization of DUS can add valuable information to a lipofilling procedure and should be considered an integral part of a safe lipofilling treatment.