Use of ultrasound to provide overall information on facial fillers and surrounding tissue.
BACKGROUND
Information on fillers and their behavior over time in the different layers of tissue is limited. Ultrasound may be used to visualize these fillers and their surrounding tissue to broaden knowledge.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of ultrasound as a diagnostic and research tool to obtain information on facial fillers and their behavior in human tissue.


METHODS
Patients with a history of facial filler treatment were examined using ultrasound in an outpatient setting.


RESULTS
Seventy-two patients were examined. Hydrophilic fillers were echo visible, whereas tissue-generating fillers, permanent and resorbable, could be detected according to their tissue-generating reaction within the tissue. Filler characteristics such as longevity and reaction within the tissue and complications such as migration and granulomas could be visualized.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of ultrasound may provide information to broaden our knowledge of facial fillers and may improve the performance and safety of filler treatments. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Schelke
Leonie W
LW
Medisch Laser Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.w.schelke@zonnet.nl
Van Den Elzen
Helga J
HJ
Erkamp
P P M
PP
Neumann
H A M
HA
D005145:Face / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D010045:Outpatients; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography