Aesthetic ultrasound and filler dissolving
Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that is now being used by a small number of trained injectors to help assess and assist in treating their patients. Using ultrasound can add a significant extra layer of safety when examining specific areas of the face.
It's important to stress that Dr Jake does not use ultrasound routinely for every injection and no injection is 'safe'. (The safest treatment is no treatment!) But ultrasound is incredibly helpful to visualise certain blood vessels, to locate problematic older filler injections and can help in emergency situations.
Before booking for this service, please email drjake@drjakesloane.com and provide:
- what the issue is exactly (photos if possible are much more useful)
- a full history of your previous injectable treatments, what products and amounts were used
- what has been done to try and rectify the problem.
Filler dissolving is not suitable for all products or all situations and without a detailed history, Dr Jake politely declines this service.
If Dr Jake thinks he can help with the information provided, a consultation and ultrasound assessment will first be performed. If it looks like old filler can be dissolved and is in your best interests, filler dissolving will be offered on the day.
What is aesthetic ultrasound?
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 the filler is lumpy, you get on/off puffiness or the area looks discoloured (often 'blue'), the old filler is usually visible using an ultrasound device to look inside the tissues. This may then help plan a dissolving treatment.
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'. Using ultrasound is now accepted by many experts to be the gold standard in managing these complications.
Key features of aesthetic ultrasound & filler dissolving
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.
Downtime & aftercare after aesthetic ultrasound & filler dissolving
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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.