Is Ultrasound Imaging Good For Evaluatring The Facial Fat Layers?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Does your practice offer ultrasound imaging as part of the evaluation for facial procedures? I’m interested in assessing both the cheek and neck areas to better determine if options like a deep neck lift, submental lipo, cheek lipo or revision buccal fat removal would be most appropriate. 

I’m 24 and I had submental liposuction, buccal fat removal, and cheek liposuction 4 years ago but most of the fat has returned to those areas. Different surgeons have been giving conflicting advice for procedures. 

Specifically, I’m hoping to evaluate:

• Facial fat distribution and muscle tone (e.g., buccinator muscle, SMAS, fribrotic tissue ) 

• Neck structures (e.g., submental fat vs. deeper compartments, platysma)

Looking forward to your response.

A: Ultrasound imaging is a diagnostic test that I have rarely used for any facial procedure. If you really want to know the details of what lies in the various facial soft tissue compartments an MRI would be more useful.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon