Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature

Understanding the vascular anatomy of the face is crucial for ensuring safe clinical practices, especially as aesthetic procedures involving hyaluronic acid fillers are gaining popularity. Although vascular complications from these procedures are rare, there has been a documented increase in adverse...

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Main Authors: Jeremy Isaac, Lee Walker, Stephen R. Ali, Iain S. Whitaker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:JPRAS Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587824001694
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author Jeremy Isaac
Lee Walker
Stephen R. Ali
Iain S. Whitaker
author_facet Jeremy Isaac
Lee Walker
Stephen R. Ali
Iain S. Whitaker
author_sort Jeremy Isaac
collection DOAJ
description Understanding the vascular anatomy of the face is crucial for ensuring safe clinical practices, especially as aesthetic procedures involving hyaluronic acid fillers are gaining popularity. Although vascular complications from these procedures are rare, there has been a documented increase in adverse events linked to venous and arterial occlusions. This review addresses the knowledge gap regarding the facial venous system compared to the well-documented facial artery system, emphasising the importance of thorough anatomical knowledge to mitigate risks during injectable cosmetic procedures. The complex and variable anatomy of the facial veins, including connections to the intracerebral venous system, allows for the retrograde spread of infections and fillers, with key tributaries such as the angular and infraorbital veins facilitating communication with the cavernous sinus. Notably, the absence of valves in certain venous regions can lead to retrograde filler flow, exacerbating complications. This illustrated review provides an analysis of the facial venous anatomy, focusing on the distribution and depth of venous structures, and aims to equip practitioners with insights that can help reduce the incidence of vascular complications associated with cosmetic procedures.
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spelling doaj-art-a0807795ced4400ba906f59219a18f922025-08-20T02:58:44ZengElsevierJPRAS Open2352-58782025-03-01439210410.1016/j.jpra.2024.10.019Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literatureJeremy Isaac0Lee Walker1Stephen R. Ali2Iain S. Whitaker3Wish Skin Clinic, Port Talbot, United KingdomB City Clinic, Liverpool, United KingdomReconstructive Surgery and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, United Kingdom; Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Reconstructive Surgery and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, United Kingdom; Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United KingdomUnderstanding the vascular anatomy of the face is crucial for ensuring safe clinical practices, especially as aesthetic procedures involving hyaluronic acid fillers are gaining popularity. Although vascular complications from these procedures are rare, there has been a documented increase in adverse events linked to venous and arterial occlusions. This review addresses the knowledge gap regarding the facial venous system compared to the well-documented facial artery system, emphasising the importance of thorough anatomical knowledge to mitigate risks during injectable cosmetic procedures. The complex and variable anatomy of the facial veins, including connections to the intracerebral venous system, allows for the retrograde spread of infections and fillers, with key tributaries such as the angular and infraorbital veins facilitating communication with the cavernous sinus. Notably, the absence of valves in certain venous regions can lead to retrograde filler flow, exacerbating complications. This illustrated review provides an analysis of the facial venous anatomy, focusing on the distribution and depth of venous structures, and aims to equip practitioners with insights that can help reduce the incidence of vascular complications associated with cosmetic procedures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587824001694Facial venous anatomyFacial veinVenous supplyFacial vasculature
spellingShingle Jeremy Isaac
Lee Walker
Stephen R. Ali
Iain S. Whitaker
Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
JPRAS Open
Facial venous anatomy
Facial vein
Venous supply
Facial vasculature
title Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
title_full Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
title_fullStr Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
title_short Exploring the venous supply of the face: An illustrated overview of contemporary literature
title_sort exploring the venous supply of the face an illustrated overview of contemporary literature
topic Facial venous anatomy
Facial vein
Venous supply
Facial vasculature
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587824001694
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