Ultrasonography in Follow-up of Soft Tissue Augmentation of the Face with Synthetic Materials: a Pilot Study

Purpose: To assess ultrasonography in the evaluation of reactions after soft tissue augmentation of the face with synthetic materials. Material and Methods: Six female patients (mean age 39±8 years) treated for facial tissue augmentation noticed unpleasant or painful effects in the intervention site after a mean of 24 months were evaluated with ultrasonography. Two patients had been treated with injections of microparticles, two with Gore-Tex implants, and two had been injected with liquid silicone. Fifteen female patients (age 27-55 years, mean 41±14 years) who had received the same treatment 14-48 months before without any complications were also evaluated and used as controls. Biopsy was performed in all patients, while four underwent re-intervention. Results: In all patients with Gore-Tex implants, a thick, homogeneous hypoechoic halo was seen surrounding the implants. Small hypoechoic nodules were noticed in the patients who had been treated with microparticles and with liquid silicone. In two cases ...