Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Dec 14;4(12 Suppl Anatomy and Safety in Cosmetic Medicine: Cosmetic Bootcamp):e1175.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001175. eCollection 2016 Dec.

Three-dimensional Facial Anatomy: Structure and Function as It Relates to Injectable Neuromodulators and Soft Tissue Fillers

Jacob I Beer  1 , David A Sieber  1 , Jack F Scheuer 3rd  1 , Timothy M Greco  1
Affiliations

Three-dimensional Facial Anatomy: Structure and Function as It Relates to Injectable Neuromodulators and Soft Tissue Fillers

Jacob I Beer et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: The advent of new neuromodulators and soft-tissue fillers continues to expand the nonsurgical repertoire of the core cosmetic physician.

Methods: The authors review relevant facial anatomy as it relates to facial aging and the resultant structural changes that occur. These changes are important for the cosmetic physician to identify and understand in order to perform both safe and effective placement of neuromodulators and soft-tissue fillers. In this anatomic review, the authors review key structures that serve as landmarks for successful treatment using both neuromodulators and fillers.

Conclusions: Knowledge of key facial anatomical structures allows the cosmetic physician to perform injection of neuromodulators and soft-tissue fillers in a reproducible manner to optimizing patient safety and results.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. The Article Processing Charge for this proceeding was paid for by Allergan plc, as part of an unrestricted educational grant to support the entire Cosmetic Boot Camp 2016 Supplement. Allergan plc had no involvement in the production, selection, or review of this proceeding supplement.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Cadaver dissection demonstrating the branches of the facial nerve in the appropriate anatomical planes. Reprinted with permission from Plast Reconstr Surg 2010;126:875–879.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Illustration demonstrating the fan shape of the frontalis muscle with separation between the heads and the muscles involved in the glabellar complex. Muscles of the forehead and glabella: frontalis (FM), oblique head of the corrugator supercilii (CSMO), transverse head of the corrugator supercilii (CSM-T), depressor supercilii (DSM), procerus (PM), medial head of the orbicularis oculi (MOOM), and the orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi (OOOM). Also labeled are the superior temporal fusion line of the skull (STL), the medial canthal tendon (MCT), and the temporalis (TM) muscle. Reprinted with permission from Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 124: 2118–2126.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Illustration demonstrating the most common path and orientation of the facial artery as it ascends toward the alar base. Notice the relationship between the DLI and DAO, with the DAO in a more superficial and lateral position. Facial artery branches: inferior alar artery (IA), inferior labial artery (IL), lateral nasal artery (LN), and superior labial artery (SL). Facial muscles: DAO, DLI, levator anguli oris (LAO), levator labii superioris (LLS), levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN), orbicularis oculi (OOc), orbicularis oris (OOr), platysma (Pl), risorius (Ri), zygomaticus minor (Zmi), and zygomaticus major (ZMj). Reprinted with permission from Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;135:437–444.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. ASPS. National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Procedural Statistics. 2015.
    1. Mendelson B, Wong CH. Changes in the facial skeleton with aging: implications and clinical applications in facial rejuvenation. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2012;36:753–760. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rohrich RJ, Pessa JE, Ristow B. The youthful cheek and the deep medial fat compartment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008;121:2107–2112. - PubMed
    1. Rohrich RJ, Pessa JE. The fat compartments of the face: anatomy and clinical implications for cosmetic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;119:2219–2227. discussion 2228–2231. - PubMed
    1. Ramanadham SR, Rohrich RJ. Newer understanding of specific anatomic targets in the aging face as applied to injectables: superficial and deep facial fat compartments–an evolving target for site-specific facial augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;136(5 Suppl):49S–55S. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources