Will Facial Artery Ligation Reduce Its Pulsations?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a facial artery pulsation on my face near my nose that has been bothering me for quite some time now. After reading your case study of facial artery ligation, I would like to get it ligated if possible. It is around the region of my cheek near my nose. I do have a hard time believing its possible to ligate such an important artery as it supplies blood to the skin and tissue of the cheek. If ligation is not possible, I would love to explore the alternatives. Maybe a fat transfer over the artery might work? I would be grateful for you opinion.

A: Please show me a picture of the area on the face where the pulsations exist. The facial tissues have such an extensive blood supply that any single artery ligation does not have a compromising effect. It is more of an issue of how easy is it to get to and would a single point of ligation be effective. Most likely you are talking about a branch of the facial artery as it courses upward around the mouth and the side of the nose. While it can be safely ligated there is the issue of back flow from the tissues that it supplies. Fat transfer for coverage is a good alternative consideration.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana