Aesthetic Ultrasound: The Complete Guide for Aesthetic Practitioners

Introduction

Ultrasound in aesthetic medicine is becoming increasingly important, giving practitioners the ability to look beneath the surface of the skin and obtain real-time information about facial anatomy, blood vessels, tissue layers and previously injected materials.

Traditionally, aesthetic practitioners have relied heavily on anatomical knowledge, visual assessment, palpation, patient history and clinical judgement when planning and delivering injectable treatments. These remain fundamental. However, ultrasound introduces something different: the ability to visualise selected structures beneath the skin before, during or after a procedure.

This has created growing interest in aesthetic ultrasound for applications including facial anatomy assessment, vascular mapping, identification and localisation of dermal fillers, treatment planning and investigation of complications.

Recent international expert consensus reflects this increasing role. A 2025 modified Delphi consensus involving 15 experts from seven medical specialties and 11 countries reached agreement on a range of equipment, training and clinical considerations for ultrasound use in cosmetic injectable practice.

Ultrasound, however, is not simply a scanner that can be purchased and immediately incorporated into practice. Its usefulness depends on selecting appropriate equipment, developing the necessary knowledge and practical skills, understanding its limitations and integrating it appropriately into clinical workflows.

This guide provides an introduction to aesthetic ultrasound, what it can show, how it is being used and what practitioners should consider before introducing it into practice.

Important: This article is intended for professional education and general information. It does not provide clinical training or replace appropriate education, competency development, professional guidance or clinical judgement.

What Is Aesthetic Ultrasound?

Aesthetic ultrasound is the application of diagnostic ultrasound imaging within aesthetic medicine.

A transducer, commonly called a probe, sends high-frequency sound waves into the tissues. Different structures interact with those waves differently, and returning echoes are processed by the ultrasound system to produce an image.

Because this happens in real time, the practitioner can examine structures beneath the skin while moving the probe across the area being assessed.

Within facial aesthetics, ultrasound may be used to examine superficial structures such as tissue layers, muscles, vessels and previously injected filler material.

This makes it fundamentally different from evaluating the face purely from its external appearance.

It is important, however, to distinguish diagnostic aesthetic ultrasound from treatments that also use ultrasound energy.

Aesthetic ultrasound vs therapeutic ultrasound

The word "ultrasound" is used for several very different technologies.

Diagnostic ultrasound is primarily an imaging technology. Its purpose is to obtain information about structures beneath the skin.

Other aesthetic technologies use ultrasound energy therapeutically—for example, to deliver energy into tissue.

When practitioners talk about ultrasound for vascular mapping, filler identification, facial anatomy assessment or complication investigation, they are generally discussing diagnostic ultrasound imaging, which is the subject of this Knowledge Centre.

How Does Aesthetic Ultrasound Work?

The underlying principle is similar to diagnostic ultrasound used throughout healthcare.

The ultrasound probe emits sound waves into the body. When these encounter boundaries between different tissues and structures, some of the energy is reflected towards the transducer.

The scanner processes these returning signals and converts them into an image.

Different structures therefore produce different appearances on the ultrasound screen.

The practitioner learns to interpret these patterns and combine the imaging information with anatomy, patient history and the wider clinical assessment.

For aesthetic applications, high-frequency ultrasound is particularly relevant because many structures of interest are relatively superficial.

There is an important relationship between ultrasound frequency, resolution and penetration depth. Higher frequencies can generally provide greater resolution of superficial structures but do not penetrate as deeply as lower frequencies.

This is one reason why simply asking which scanner has the "highest MHz" is not sufficient when selecting equipment. Frequency must be considered alongside the intended clinical applications, imaging depth, probe design, Doppler performance, image quality and other requirements.

What Can Facial Ultrasound Show?

Within facial aesthetics, ultrasound may be used to examine superficial structures such as tissue layers, muscles, vessels and previously injected filler material. Learn more about how facial ultrasound is used in aesthetic medicine.

One of the easiest ways to understand the potential value of aesthetic ultrasound is to consider the information it may provide beneath the surface of the face.

Depending on the equipment, anatomical area, operator competency and clinical circumstances, ultrasound may help visualise structures including:

• skin and subcutaneous tissues;
• fascial planes;
• muscles;
• blood vessels;
• surfaces of underlying bone;
• certain previously injected filler materials;
• fluid collections; and
• tissue changes associated with some complications.

This does not mean that every structure or abnormality can always be identified.

Image quality depends on several factors, including ultrasound frequency, probe characteristics, scanner capability, machine settings, the structure being examined and the skill of the operator.

Ultrasound should therefore be regarded as an additional source of clinical information rather than an infallible method of seeing everything beneath the skin.

B-Mode Ultrasound in Aesthetic Medicine

B-mode, or brightness mode, is the familiar greyscale ultrasound image used to visualise anatomical structures.

Different tissues produce different echogenic appearances depending on how they interact with ultrasound waves.

Learning to recognise these patterns is one of the fundamental skills involved in ultrasound education.

For aesthetic practitioners, B-mode imaging can contribute to understanding the position and relationship of structures such as tissue layers, muscles, filler deposits and vessels.

However, when vascular information is required, B-mode alone has limitations.

This is where Doppler becomes particularly important.

What Is Doppler Ultrasound?

Doppler ultrasound provides information relating to blood flow.

This makes it particularly relevant within aesthetic medicine, where understanding vascular anatomy can be important when assessing facial structures and planning injectable procedures.

Different Doppler modes provide different types of information.

Colour Doppler

Colour Doppler overlays blood-flow information onto the conventional ultrasound image, helping the operator identify vessels and assess flow.

Power Doppler

Power Doppler can be useful for detecting lower-flow signals, although it provides different information from conventional colour Doppler.

Spectral Doppler

Spectral Doppler displays blood-flow information graphically over time and can contribute to characterising vascular flow.

The 2025 international Delphi consensus recommended B-mode, colour Doppler, spectral Doppler and image/video archiving among the capabilities considered necessary for ultrasound use in cosmetic filler practice, with power Doppler recommended.

This helps explain why the requirements for an aesthetic ultrasound scanner extend beyond simply finding a device capable of producing a greyscale image.

How Is Ultrasound Used in Aesthetic Practice?

The potential applications of ultrasound extend across different stages of the aesthetic patient journey.

A 2026 review describes applications before, during and after injectable procedures, including anatomical assessment and vascular mapping before treatment, real-time guidance during selected procedures, and assessment of filler placement or complications afterwards. The authors also note that standardised protocols remain an area requiring further development.

Some of the main applications include the following.

1. Facial anatomy visualisation

Facial anatomy is three-dimensional and varies between individuals.

Ultrasound can provide real-time information about selected structures beneath the skin and their relationship to surrounding tissues.

This does not replace anatomical knowledge.

Instead, ultrasound can allow practitioners with appropriate training to combine their anatomical understanding with information obtained from the individual patient being assessed.

This distinction is important:

Anatomical knowledge tells the practitioner what should be there. Ultrasound may provide additional information about what can be visualised in the individual patient.

2. Facial vascular mapping

Blood vessels are one of the most important structures relevant to many aesthetic injectable procedures.

Their location is not identical in every individual.

High-frequency Doppler ultrasound can help identify facial vessels and anatomical variations. Recent literature describes its use for vascular mapping and assessment of higher-risk anatomical areas.

Vascular mapping may therefore provide additional information during assessment and treatment planning.

It is important not to interpret this as meaning that ultrasound makes an injectable procedure risk-free.

It does not.

Vascular mapping should be understood as one potential component of a wider approach incorporating anatomical knowledge, appropriate technique, clinical judgement and complication preparedness.

Where Ultrasound Fits in the Aesthetic Patient Journey

Ultrasound does not have to be viewed as a tool for a single point in an aesthetic procedure. Depending on the patient, treatment and clinical need, it can potentially provide useful information at several stages of the patient journey.

Assessment

Before treatment, ultrasound may support assessment of individual anatomy, vascular structures, existing filler and other findings relevant to the consultation. This can provide additional information alongside patient history, examination and clinical assessment.

Planning

Information obtained during the assessment may help inform treatment planning. For example, a practitioner may identify anatomical variation, locate existing filler or better understand the position of relevant vascular structures before deciding how - or whether - to proceed.

Procedure

In selected applications, ultrasound can be used during a procedure to provide real-time visualisation. This may include ultrasound-guided interventions where the practitioner needs to understand the relationship between an instrument, target area and surrounding structures.

Follow-up

Ultrasound may also have a role after treatment, for example when assessing filler placement or investigating an unexpected finding such as a lump, swelling or asymmetry.

Complication assessment

Where a complication is suspected, ultrasound may provide additional information about filler location, surrounding tissues and vascular flow, depending on the clinical situation. This information can contribute to assessment and, where appropriate, help inform targeted management by suitably trained practitioners.

The role of ultrasound therefore extends beyond the procedure itself:

Assessment → Planning → Procedure → Follow-up → Complication assessment

Importantly, this does not mean that ultrasound is necessary at every stage for every patient. Its use should be guided by clinical need, practitioner competency and whether imaging is likely to provide information that meaningfully contributes to patient care.

Ultrasound and Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are one of the areas in which aesthetic ultrasound has attracted particularly significant interest.

Ultrasound can potentially provide information at several stages of the treatment journey.

Before treatment

A practitioner may encounter a patient who has undergone previous filler treatments - sometimes years earlier.

The patient may not know:

• exactly what product was injected;
• how much was used;
• precisely where it was placed; or
• whether material remains.

Ultrasound may help identify and localise existing filler deposits in appropriate circumstances.

A 2026 literature review examined the ultrasound appearances of several commonly used cosmetic filler materials and reported that different filler types can produce characteristic sonographic patterns.

This potentially provides additional information when evaluating a patient with previous treatment history.

During treatment

Ultrasound can also be used to guide selected procedures in real time.

The operator can observe the relationship between the instrument, target area and surrounding anatomy rather than relying entirely on external landmarks.

Research has described both scanning before injection and scanning while injecting, particularly in anatomically complex regions of the face.

This is an advanced application requiring appropriate training and competency.

After treatment

Ultrasound may also be used following filler treatment to assess where material has been placed or investigate an unexpected clinical finding.

This becomes particularly relevant when a patient presents with concerns such as a lump, swelling, asymmetry or another suspected complication.

Can Ultrasound Identify Existing Dermal Filler?

In many circumstances, ultrasound can help identify and localise previously injected filler material, although appearance varies according to the material, age of the filler and surrounding tissues.

For example, the 2026 literature review of cosmetic fillers described differing sonographic patterns associated with materials including hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, polycaprolactone, polymethylmethacrylate and silicone.

This has potentially important implications for aesthetic practice.

A practitioner may be assessing a patient who:

• was treated elsewhere;
• has incomplete treatment records;
• cannot remember the product used;
• has undergone multiple treatments;
• presents with an unexpected lump or irregularity; or
• is considering further treatment in an area containing existing filler.

Ultrasound may contribute useful information to that assessment.

However, identifying filler accurately requires appropriate image interpretation and should not be reduced to simply locating "something dark" or "something bright" on an ultrasound screen.

What Role Can Ultrasound Play in Aesthetic Complications?

Another major area of interest is the assessment and management of complications.

Ultrasound findings have been described for a range of filler-related complications, including vascular occlusion, infection and abscess formation, inflammatory reactions, filler migration and overfilling.

Potential applications include helping to determine:

• where filler material is located;
• whether a collection is present;
• whether vascular flow appears altered;
• the relationship between a complication and surrounding structures; and
• where targeted treatment may need to be considered by an appropriately trained practitioner.

Vascular complications

Vascular occlusion is a rare but potentially serious complication of dermal filler treatment.

Doppler ultrasound can provide information about blood flow and has been increasingly investigated in relation to vascular complications. Recent literature continues to explore Doppler high-frequency ultrasound for identifying and assessing vascular compromise associated with injectable fillers.

Ultrasound-guided intervention has also been studied.

A 2025 systematic review and case series examined ultrasound-guided hyaluronidase for filler-induced arterial ischaemia. The authors reported encouraging findings but also called for larger studies to establish standardised protocols around treatment and timing.

That distinction matters.

Emerging evidence should not be presented as universal clinical protocol.

Does Ultrasound Make Aesthetic Procedures Safer?

This question requires a careful answer.

Ultrasound can provide additional anatomical and vascular information that may support assessment, treatment planning and clinical decision-making.

That is different from saying that ultrasound guarantees safety.

No imaging technology removes all procedural risk.

Its usefulness depends upon factors including:

equipment + operator competency + anatomy knowledge + image interpretation + clinical judgement + appropriate protocols.

An ultrasound scanner in the hands of somebody unable to acquire or correctly interpret the image does not automatically improve patient safety.

This is why the discussion around aesthetic ultrasound increasingly involves training and competency, rather than equipment alone.

What Type of Ultrasound Scanner Is Used for Facial Aesthetics?

Facial aesthetic imaging generally requires equipment capable of producing high-resolution images of relatively superficial structures.

Important considerations can include:

• transducer frequency;
• imaging depth;
• linear probe configuration;
• probe footprint;
• B-mode image quality;
• colour Doppler;
• power Doppler;
• spectral or pulsed-wave Doppler;
• image and video storage;
• portability;
• ergonomics; and
• suitability for the intended clinical applications.

The 2025 international expert consensus recommended a minimum 15 MHz linear transducer for both learning and regular diagnostic use in cosmetic filler practice and concluded that handheld devices can be used.

However, frequency should not be considered in isolation.

A scanner advertising the highest MHz number is not automatically the best scanner for every aesthetic practitioner.

The more useful question is:

What does your practice need the scanner to do?

That means equipment selection should begin with clinical requirements rather than a product specification sheet.

Do You Need Training to Use Ultrasound in Aesthetic Practice?

The growing interest in ultrasound for aesthetic practitioners has also increased the importance of appropriate education, practical training and competency development.

Appropriate training and competency development are fundamental.

Buying an ultrasound scanner does not itself create the ability to acquire, optimise and interpret useful images.

Practitioners need to develop knowledge and practical capability across areas that may include:

• ultrasound principles;
• machine controls;
• probe handling;
• image optimisation;
• facial sonoanatomy;
• B-mode interpretation;
• Doppler principles;
• vascular identification;
• recognition of artefacts;
• filler appearances;
• documentation;
• clinical integration; and
• limitations of ultrasound.

The international expert consensus on ultrasound in cosmetic filler injections specifically identified an extensive range of training and practice topics that should be learned before incorporating ultrasound imaging into practice.

Competency also develops through practical experience.

This means aesthetic ultrasound should not be approached simply as:

Buy scanner → attend course → start scanning independently.

Education, supervised practice where appropriate, continuing development and ongoing use all contribute to capability.

What Are the Limitations of Aesthetic Ultrasound?

Ultrasound has significant potential, but understanding its limitations is just as important as understanding its benefits.

Operator dependency

Ultrasound is highly operator-dependent.

The person performing the examination influences both the quality of the image acquired and how it is interpreted.

Learning curve

Recognising structures on an ultrasound screen is different from recognising them in an anatomy textbook.

Developing reliable scanning and interpretation skills requires education and practice.

Equipment limitations

Not every ultrasound scanner is equally suitable for superficial facial imaging.

Frequency, Doppler capability, probe design, image quality and other technical characteristics can influence performance.

Artefacts

Ultrasound images can contain artefacts that may be misinterpreted without appropriate knowledge.

Anatomical variation

Facial anatomy varies between individuals, which is one reason ultrasound can be valuable but also one reason interpretation requires strong anatomical knowledge.

Workflow

Scanning takes time.

A clinic needs to determine when ultrasound genuinely adds value rather than introducing scanning indiscriminately into every appointment.

Standardisation

Aesthetic ultrasound is still developing as a field, and standardised protocols are not established for every application. Recent reviews specifically identify the continuing need for greater standardisation.

Acknowledging these limitations does not diminish the value of ultrasound. It helps establish where and how the technology can be used appropriately.

Introducing Ultrasound into an Aesthetic Practice

One of the biggest mistakes a clinic can make is treating ultrasound adoption primarily as an equipment purchase.

The scanner is important, but it is only one component of successful adoption. A technically capable ultrasound system can still deliver little value if practitioners are unsure when to use it, lack confidence in image acquisition or interpretation, or struggle to incorporate scanning into everyday clinical workflows.

A more useful way to think about ultrasound adoption is as a progression through six connected areas:

Clinical Need → Technology → Training → Workflow → Competency → Utilisation

Each stage influences the next. Successful adoption ultimately means progressing beyond purchasing equipment to developing a clinical capability that is used appropriately and consistently.

1. Clinical Need — Define Why You Need Ultrasound

The starting point should be the clinical need, not the scanner.

Before comparing devices, a practice should identify what it actually wants ultrasound to help achieve.

Potential objectives might include:

• visualising facial anatomy;
• identifying and mapping blood vessels;
• assessing existing dermal filler;
• supporting treatment planning;
• investigating selected complications; or
• developing capability for ultrasound-guided procedures.

Different practices may have very different priorities.

Defining those priorities first makes it much easier to determine what equipment, training and implementation support will subsequently be required.

2. Technology — Choose Equipment Around the Clinical Need

Choosing an aesthetic ultrasound scanner requires more than comparing frequency specifications, as the appropriate system depends on the clinical applications the practice intends to support.

Once the intended applications are understood, the practice can translate them into technical requirements.

Factors may include:

• transducer frequency and imaging depth;
• probe type and footprint;
• B-mode image quality;
• colour and power Doppler capability;
• spectral Doppler where required;
• portability and ergonomics;
• image and video storage; and
• service and technical support.

This reverses a common purchasing approach.

Instead of asking:

Which aesthetic ultrasound scanner should we buy?

the practice asks:

What does our clinical need require the ultrasound system to do?

The scanner can then be evaluated against those requirements.

3. Training — Build the Necessary Knowledge and Skills

Having the right equipment does not automatically create clinical capability.

Practitioners need appropriate education and practical development in areas such as ultrasound principles, probe handling, image optimisation, facial sonoanatomy, Doppler, artefacts and image interpretation.

Training requirements should also reflect the intended use.

A practitioner seeking to use ultrasound for basic anatomical assessment may have different learning requirements from someone intending to undertake advanced ultrasound-guided procedures or assess complex complications.

Training should therefore be considered part of the adoption decision from the beginning, rather than something arranged only after the scanner arrives.

4. Workflow — Integrate Ultrasound into Clinical Practice

Even appropriately trained practitioners can struggle to use ultrasound consistently if it does not fit naturally into their workflow.

The clinic needs to decide practical questions such as:

• Which patients or procedures may benefit from ultrasound?
• At what point in the patient journey should scanning occur?
• Who will perform the examination?
• How much additional appointment time may be required?
• How will images and findings be documented?
• Where will the scanner be located?
• What protocols or standard operating procedures are needed?
• How will ultrasound findings contribute to clinical decision-making?

The objective is not necessarily to scan every patient.

It is to identify where ultrasound adds sufficient clinical value to justify its use and make those situations part of a workable process.

5. Competency — Develop Confidence Through Appropriate Practice

Training and competency are related, but they are not the same thing.

Completing a course provides education. Competency develops as knowledge and practical skills are applied, assessed and maintained.

Practitioners may need continuing practice, mentorship, case review, additional education and opportunities to consolidate their skills.

They also need to recognise the limitations of both the technology and their own capability.

This is particularly important because ultrasound is operator-dependent. Image acquisition and interpretation improve with appropriate experience and continued use.

The goal should therefore be more than simply becoming trained.

It should be developing and maintaining the competency required for the intended clinical applications.

6. Utilisation — Turn Capability into Sustained Clinical Value

The final challenge is ensuring that ultrasound actually becomes used.

A scanner that remains in a cupboard most of the week has not been successfully adopted, regardless of its technical capabilities.

Practices should therefore consider whether ultrasound is being used for the clinical applications originally identified and whether it is delivering the expected value.

Questions might include:

• How frequently is ultrasound being used?
• For which clinical applications?
• Are practitioners becoming more confident?
• Are there barriers preventing use?
• Is ultrasound contributing useful information to clinical decisions?
• Are workflows functioning as intended?
• Are there opportunities to extend appropriate use as capability develops?

Reviewing these questions helps move ultrasound from being a piece of equipment to becoming an established clinical capability within the practice.

From Scanner Purchase to Successful Adoption

These six elements are interconnected:

Clinical Need → Technology → Training → Workflow → Competency → Utilisation

A weakness at one stage can affect everything that follows.

For example, purchasing technology before defining the clinical need can result in the wrong specifications. Training without sufficient opportunities to practise may limit competency. And developing competency without establishing a workable clinical workflow can lead to poor utilisation.

Successful ultrasound adoption should therefore not be measured simply by whether a practice has purchased a scanner.

A better measure is whether the practice has developed the technology, people, processes and capability needed to use ultrasound appropriately and sustainably where it adds clinical value.

How Much Does Aesthetic Ultrasound Cost?

Scanner cost is naturally one of the first questions practitioners ask.

But the purchase price is only one part of the investment.

A clinic considering ultrasound may need to account for:

• scanner cost;
• training;
• practitioner time;
• implementation;
• accessories;
• maintenance or support where applicable;
• finance costs where applicable;
• workflow changes; and
• ongoing competency development.

The more important question is therefore not simply:

How much does an ultrasound scanner cost?

It is:

What will it cost our practice to adopt ultrasound successfully, and will the resulting clinical and operational value justify that investment?

That requires looking at intended use, expected utilisation, patient demand, workflow and the potential clinical and commercial benefits.

Which Aesthetic Practitioners May Benefit from Learning About Ultrasound?

Interest in aesthetic ultrasound spans several professional groups involved in facial aesthetics, including:

• doctors;
• dentists involved in facial aesthetics;
• nurses and other appropriately qualified healthcare practitioners;
• sonographers working within aesthetic medicine;
• aesthetic injectors;
• educators and training providers; and
• clinic owners evaluating whether to introduce ultrasound.

However, learning about ultrasound and being appropriately qualified or competent to use it for a particular clinical activity are different questions.

Practitioners need to consider their own professional scope of practice, training, competency, insurance, governance arrangements and applicable regulatory requirements.

Those requirements should be evaluated independently rather than assuming that access to an ultrasound scanner automatically establishes clinical authority or competence to perform a particular procedure.

Should Your Aesthetic Practice Consider Ultrasound?

Ultrasound will not necessarily be the right investment for every practice.

Before comparing scanners, consider five questions.

1. What problem are you trying to solve?

Is your interest primarily in vascular mapping, existing filler assessment, complications, ultrasound-guided procedures, patient consultation or another use case?

2. How often would you realistically use ultrasound?

A scanner that is rarely used is difficult to justify regardless of its technical capabilities.

3. What clinical capabilities will you need?

Different intended applications create different equipment and training requirements.

4. How will you develop competency?

Training should be considered before—not after—the purchasing decision.

5. How will ultrasound fit into your existing workflow?

Consider who will scan, when scanning occurs, how findings are documented and how competency will be maintained.

If those questions are difficult to answer, choosing a scanner probably shouldn't be the first step.

Instead, start by determining whether ultrasound is appropriate for your practice and what successful adoption would actually require.

Considering Investing in Aesthetic Ultrasound?

Before investing £5,000+ in ultrasound, there are several questions worth answering about your clinical needs, training requirements, intended applications, equipment requirements and implementation readiness.

Download the free Aesthetic Ultrasound Investment Checklist — 12 Questions to Answer Before Investing £5,000+ in Ultrasound.

Download the free Aesthetic Ultrasound Investment Checklist

Building a More Informed Approach to Aesthetic Ultrasound

Aesthetic ultrasound represents an important development in the way practitioners can assess facial anatomy and obtain information beneath the skin.

Its applications are expanding across anatomical assessment, vascular mapping, dermal fillers, treatment planning, image-guided procedures and complication assessment. Recent international consensus and published research demonstrate the increasing clinical attention being given to ultrasound within aesthetic medicine.

But ultrasound should not be viewed as a shortcut to safer or more advanced practice.

Its value depends on the combination of appropriate technology, education, competency, clinical judgement, governance and successful implementation.

For practitioners beginning to explore the field, the most useful starting point is therefore not necessarily asking:

Which ultrasound scanner should I buy?

A better first question is:

What do I want ultrasound to help me achieve, and what will my practice need to adopt it successfully?

That is the question the rest of the Oras Medical Aesthetic Ultrasound Knowledge Centre is designed to help answer.

References

1. Velthuis PJ, et al. The use of ultrasound imaging in aesthetic injectables: A modified Delphi consensus. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2025;104:33–37. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2025.03.001. This is the key source for the article's statements around minimum transducer frequency, Doppler capabilities, training, equipment requirements and the growing role of ultrasound in injectable practice.
2. Arrigoni F, et al. Ultrasound imaging in aesthetic medicine: safety and precision in injectable procedures. Journal of Ultrasound. 2026. This is particularly useful for explaining ultrasound across the pre-procedure, intra-procedure and post-procedure stages, as well as the continuing need for standardised protocols.
3. Khorasanizadeh F, et al. Ultrasonographic evaluation of cosmetic fillers: patterns, complications, and clinical implications. 2026. This supports our discussion of identifying filler type and location, as well as ultrasound appearances associated with filler-related complications.
4. Sigrist R, Desyatnikova S, Chammas MC, Vasconcelos-Berg R. Best Practices for the Use of High-Frequency Ultrasound to Guide Aesthetic Filler Injections—Part 1: Upper Third of the Face. Diagnostics. 2024;14(16):1718. doi:10.3390/diagnostics14161718. This is particularly useful for vascular mapping, high-frequency ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injectable procedures.
5. Vasconcelos-Berg R, et al. Best Practices for the Use of High-Frequency Ultrasound to Guide Aesthetic Filler Injections—Part 2: Middle Third of the Face, Nose, and Tear Troughs. Diagnostics. 2024;14(22):2544. This extends the evidence around ultrasound-guided assessment and procedures into the midface, nose and tear trough.
6. Azizi N, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Hyaluronidase Injection for Filler-Induced Arterial Ischemia: A Pictorial Case Series and Systematic Review of Literature. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2025. This supports the section discussing ultrasound-guided management of filler-related vascular complications, while also reinforcing the need for caution because the evidence base is still developing.
7. Chammas MC, et al. Consensus on Best Practice in Aesthetic Dermatologic Ultrasound. 2025. This expert consensus focuses specifically on improving and standardising dermatologic ultrasound practice within aesthetics and is useful when discussing training, diagnostic quality and the emerging need for more consistent practice standards.