Enhancing Safety with Ultrasound Imaging
My most inspiring teachers in the injectable world all have one thing in common: they all use an ultrasound tool to make certain that their treatments are as safe and precise as possible. I feel proud to say that I am implementing this tool into my practice to make me a safer practitioner, and this increase in safety is deeply aligned with my values. The ultrasound machine allows me to see beneath the skin and have extra certainty that I am offering the best possible treatment.
When it comes to filler treatments, there are potential risks. These are rare, but they exist, and particularly there is risk when injecting into parts of the face where there are dense networks of vasculature. The ultrasound tool allows me to detect these areas. For example, the temple area of the face is a common region where we experience volume loss and where filler treatments can have impactful results, but there is a complex network of vasculature below the skin here, too. Using the ultrasound tool, I can detect the exact, particular vasculature and inject accordingly.
Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging device that allows visualization of structures inside your body. Ultrasound imaging uses a small transducer (a probe) to send out sound waves into the body and it records the waves that echo back.
This tool can also be used for clients who have had previous treatment with filler. We can detect if there is still filler beneath the skin, and where or if it has migrated. This can also help us to plan future treatments according to a more thorough understanding of how the body is absorbing previous work.
What to expect when you come in: if we are going to treat an area high in vasculature, we will consult when you arrive and devise a plan for the treatment; we will talk about your goals, take photos, and now, we will add in the brief ultrasound scanning, moving the machine over the area to be treated in order to map out the sure fire safest bet for adding filler. In addition to filler services, the ultrasound may be used to track the movement of the musculature beneath the face which can create the best results for botox application. There is a role for the use of Kybella and Sculptra as well.
Among the many regions of the face– the temples, the cheeks, the nasal-labial folds, the jawline, and the chin– there is a variety of density in the vasculature. In other words, the underworld of the face is quite diverse. Furthermore, it’s quite diverse between people; studies indicate that there is no absolute uniformity of vasculature. It can be unpredictable. The ultrasound allows us to see the deepest layers of the skin, the musculature, and the bone. It is the optimal optical entry into any area of the body that we hope to treat, and the surest way for me to be safe.
My goal is to be the safest injector I can be. Beyond this, I would also love to be an expert in treating adverse events. Should anything go wrong in my chair or anyone’s chair, I hope to be a resource folx could turn to in order to address any concerns, help with corrections, and ensure the safest overall experience possible.