FILLER DISSOLVING, FILLER COMPLICATIONS & ULTRASOUND
Aesthetic ultrasound & filler dissolving
Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that is now being used by a small number of trained injectors to help assess and treat their patients.
Using ultrasound can add a significant extra layer of safety when examining areas of the face but it also helps visualise problematic previous filler injections.
What is aesthetic ultrasound used for?
There are three main reasons that Dr Jake uses ultrasound:
1) To identify the main blood vessels of an area before placing fillers - this process is known as 'vascular mapping'. (This isn't done routine but is reserved for specific areas of the face such as the nose)
2) To assess old fillers that may have become problematic. If you've had a sub-optimal result by an injector in the past, for example if the filler is lumpy, you get on/off puffiness or the area looks discoloured (often 'blue'), this is usually visible using ultrasound and a dissolve can be attempted.
3) To treat filler emergencies known as 'vascular occlusions. If a filler has been injected that inadvertently compromises the blood supply to the skin, it must be dissolved to avoid death of the skin known as 'necrosis'. Dr Jake has helped managed several vascular occlusions and using ultrasound is now accepted by experts to be the gold standard in managing these complications.
What are the benefits of filler dissolving
& ultrasound?
Consultations
New patient filler consultations = 60 mins
(This includes the consultation, ultrasound examination +/- filler dissolving)
Improving safety
Even the best injectors will experience complications - they are medical procedures. But embracing technology like ultrasound can help reduce the risk of vascular occlusions and blindness.
Accurate dissolving
We now know that the most commonly used fillers can remain in our tissues for 10+ years. If problematic, they can usually be seen using ultrasound to localise a filler dissolving treatment.
Emergency treatments
Injectors without experience in treating vascular occlusions will often struggle to locate the problem area. Ultrasound can help make filler dissolving quicker and reduce harm to patients.
What is the downtime & aftercare for filler dissolving treatments?
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Some swelling or tenderness at the injection sites is very normal. This can take a few days to recover.
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Bruising is possible after filler dissolving and for the lip area this can occasionally be extensive.
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After dissolving fillers (and particularly ones that have been in the tissue for a long time), visible hollowing, 'emptiness' and sagging of the area is likely to be seen.
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There is no evidence that filler dissolving affects the natural tissues of the face, despite the scare mongering seen online and on social media.
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As a result of the volume loss after a significant dissolve, sometimes patients panic and request that their fillers are re-done. Dr Jake never promises that he will re-do any future fillers. The tissues need to recover after often several years of distortion and swelling and the lymphatics of the face need time to recover.