Understanding facial anatomy in aesthetic practice

Abstract

In this article the author will explore the relevance and importance of knowing and understanding the facial anatomy, including what benefits this has to the patient and the injector. This article will detail why an in-depth knowledge of anatomy is important, specifically in relation to aesthetic medicine, botulinum toxin A and soft tissue filler injections. First and foremost, it is the medical injector's duty of care to have a deep knowledge and understanding of anatomy and physiology with regard to any medical procedure. Unfortunately, as well-known, cosmetic injectables are largely unregulated. The number of reports of ‘botched’ cosmetic procedures or even poor treatment and poor consumer service just keeps on rising ( Save Face, 2019 ). This raises the question of why this is and why the complications becoming what seems to be more frequent and increasing in severity.