The Relationship Between the Facial Vessels and the Deep Fascia of the Infraorbital Region: A New Concept

Abstract

The Superficial Musculo‐Aponeurotic System (SMAS) has been considered for decades the carrying layer of the facial vessels. Recently the existence of a deep fascial layer in the infraorbital region has been shown and this finding seems to change some classic anatomical concepts related to the facial vessels as well.Materials and Methods20 hemifaces have been dissected at the Centre du Don des Corps de l'Université Paris DesCartes in Paris to study the relationship between the facial artery and vein and the deep fascia of the infraorbital region, that continues from the temporal region and covers the mimetic muscles of the infraorbital area.ResultsThe vessels were identified in all the specimens and the facial artery was followed from the anterior border of the masseter muscle. In the midface its path was always superficial to the deep fascial layer, in the plane between the SMAS and the deep fascia, on the contrary the facial vein started its path deep to the deep fascia just medial to the medial border of the levetor labii superioris muscle, running in a deeper plane than the artery.ConclusionsIn all the specimens in the midface the facial vessels were in relationship with the expansion of the superficial layer of the deep temporal fascia. The facial artery ran always superficial to it, on the contrary the facial vein in its path toward the lower third of the face ran in a deeper plane than the artery, deep to the deep fascial layer of the infraorbital region.