CADAVERIC EVALUATION OF THE LOCATION OF ARTERIES AND THEIR ANASTOMOTIC TERRITORIES ON THE FACE: THE FEASIBILITY DETERMINATION OF RISKY SEVERE COMPLICATIONS REGARDING TO THE FILLER INJECTIONS SITES

Abstract

The facial aging features are most concerns; therefore, the filler injection procedures are selected to provide the youthful face. However, the several complications following arterial devastating have been reported continually. Therefore, this study objectively evaluated the arterial location relative to filler injection sites. Furthermore, the arterial anastomoses and arterial supply of each injection site were also studied to verify the filler embolic pathways. This dissection was performed on 62 hemi-faces Thai embalmed cadavers to investigate nearest artery and its location of all injection sites. While, the 20 hemi-faces Thai embalmed cadavers were employed with Sihler’s staining procedure to examine the anastomotic pathways. The most of nearest artery of forehead landmark was supratrochlear artery (48.4%). For the eyebrow injection site, the most nearest artery was brow branch of supraorbital artery (46.8%). The most nearest artery was lateral rim branch (35.5%) at upper eyelid injection site. At the glabellar area, the main nearest artery was left central artery (32.3%). For the temple injection sites, the closest artery was descending branch of superficial temporal artery (50.0%). At the tear trough, the major nearest artery was angular branch of ophthalmic artery (43.5%). Moreover, the main nearest artery to mid cheek was infraorbital artery (29.0%), whereas transverse facial artery was locating nearest to lateral hollowness injection site. However, facial artery located nearest to nasolabial injection sites (58.1%). The superior labial artery was found mostly locating closest to upper lip injection sites (88.7%). The closest artery to chin and jawline injection sites was right submental (61.3%) and facial artery (88.7%), respectively. To summarize our finding, the upper face may provide highest risk of severe complications when compares with the middle and lower face regions. However, the middle face may confront with the risk of severe complication due to it has anastomosis to the branch of ophthalmic artery.