High frequency ultrasound imaging as a "potential" way of evaluation modality in side effects of lip augmentation - case report

Emerging High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging in Medical Cosmetology

Cosmetic skin diseases are a part of many dermatological concerns brought up by patients, which negatively affect mental health and quality of life. Imaging technology has an established role in the diagnosis of cosmetic skin diseases by recognizing information on deep skin lesions. Due to the complex physiological and pathological nature of cosmetic skin diseases, the diagnostic imaging performance varies greatly. Developing noninvasive technology models with wide applicability, particularly high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), which is able to achieve high-resolution imaging of the skin from the stratum corneum down to the deep fascia, is of great significance to medical cosmetology. To explore the great potential of HFUS in cosmetic skin diseases, a narrative review of literature from PubMed and Web of Science published between 1985 and 2022 was conducted. This narrative review focuses on the progression of HFUS imaging in medical cosmetology, especially on its promising application in the quantitative evaluation and differential diagnosis of cutaneous pathological scar, port wine stain (PWS), acne, skin aging, and other cosmetic applications.

A New Approach for Lip Filler Injection Using an Inverted Mercedes Benz Sign

Lip fillers have a great impact on the facial aesthetic industry, where several techniques have been proposed for lip beautification in terms of both the results and delivering a safe injection procedure. The study aimed to report a personal experience with a new lip filler technique, via inserting a microcannula through three entry points, resembling an inverted Mercedes Benz sign. Ten female patients between 22 and 29 years of age had a lip filler treatment with a cross-linked hyaluronic acid injected using a microcannula through two entry points at both Glogau-Klein points of the upper lip and one entry point at the midline of the lower lip. The filler product was deposited in both retrograde and aliquots fashion in the superficial muscular plane. All patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the results of the procedure, with slight swelling and bruising transiently present in some of the patients. Unlike the conventional cannula technique, this new technique offers artistry in accentuating the cupid’s bow and redrawing the lips.

High frequency ultrasound assessment of labial glands simulating small nodules or granulomas after lip augmentation

Aim of the study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of high-frequency ultrasound in the assessment of the nature and differentiation of lumps occurring in the labial mucosa after lip filling procedures.

Material and methods

The study sample included 5 women aged from 28 to 43 years (mean age: 37.4 years) who previously underwent a lip augmentation or rejuvenation procedure. Photographic documentation was taken and high-frequency ultrasound assessment was performed in all the patients. The presence of deposits, foreign body granulomas, fibrosis and labial glands was mainly investigated taking into account the shape of the abnormalities, their margins, surface area, location and echogenicity. In order to confirm the diagnosis, histopathological examination was performed.

Results

The examinations performed made it possible to differentiate between granulomas and persistent deposit nodules and to demonstrate the presence of massive fibrosis and of labial glands pushed out by these abnormalities with the glands presenting as hypoechoic oval areas. Histopathological examination confirmed the morphology of labial glands reported by the patients as uncomfortable lumps felt from the side of the mucosa, which clinically simulate persistent deposit nodules or granulomas.

Conclusions

High-frequency ultrasound is a method that is essential for the correct differentiation between complications of tissue filler procedures. This, in turn, makes it possible to apply the right treatment. In this study, it was demonstrated for the first time that the lumps reported by patients who have had a lip filling procedure may be the result of labial glands being pushed out by deposits, granulomas or massive fibrosis, which are complications of such procedures.

The usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography in the evaluation of vulvar dermatoses in postmenopausal women - a preliminary report

Introduction

The vulva is an external female genital organ with complex anatomy and histology. In postmenopausal women, this region is at particular risk of different types of conditions known as dermatoses.

Materials and methods

We assessed benign vulvar skin lesions using high-frequency 48 MHz ultrasound transducer (DermaView) prior to biopsy or excision. We compared ultrasonographic images with histology.

Results

We assessed benign vulvar lesions such as folliculitis, condylomata acuminatum, lichen sclerosus and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. We presented typical high-frequency images of these pathologies and compared them with histological images.

Conclusion

Our preliminary study confirms that high-frequency ultrasonography is a useful tool in the assessment of vulvar pathologies, especially before surgical excision. A precise visualization of certain pathologies like folliculitis, lichen sclerosus, condylomata and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is possible.