Warnings issued about the dangers of facial starters

Researchers used the ultrasound to analyze 100 cases of initial injections going wrong.

The clinics are now recommended to perform ultrasound before injecting strands into the face to avoid damaging nearby arteries.

According to Dr. Rosa Sigrist, such cases are rare, <x0) vascular illusions”, when the initial is injected into or near blood vessels, can be devastating. They can cause death of tissue and facial deformities if not treated in time.
Fillers are usually used for wrinkles, to replace “with” skin or to change nose and lip shape.

The region around the nose is especially dangerous, since blood vessels there are associated with very important parts of the head. Injury can lead to serious complications, including skin damage, blindness, and stroke.

Her team at the University of São Paulo has analysed vascular complications in 100 patients from different centres in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, the Netherlands, and the United States between May 2022 and April 2025. The results are expected to be presented at the annual meeting of the North American Radiological Association.

In about half of the cases, ultrasound has shown a lack of circulation in small vessels that connect surface arteries to deep facial arteries. In one third, however, circulation was lacking even in larger blood vessels.

To avoid complications, it recommends that clinics use the ultrasound to plan the injection site. If complications occur, the treatment may also be helpful.

If the injectors act without ultrasound, they treat them according to what they see with their eyes and inject them blindly. But if we look at the ultrasound problem, we can target the exact location where the deadlock is”, Sigrist said.

This avoids the need to use large amounts of the hialutronis drug to digest the strand, enabling more accurate treatment.

The British Association of Plastic Surgery (BAAPS) has declared that the use of ultrasound is increasing, but still is not the standard of care. Ultraver is safe, non-invasive and without radiation.

BAPS President Nora Nugent has said that the preliminary drafting of blood vessels helps a lot before treatment and that such risks are why the organisation has asked for more regulation for aesthetic procedures, including limiting injections only for trained health professionals.

Britain's government has warned new restrictions on aesthetic procedures.

According to the proposals, only properly qualified professionals “will be allowed to carry out risky procedures such as the one for the establishment of the ass called “Brazilian butt-2”.

Clinics that offer starters and bonds will have to obtain licenses and meet strict standards.

Public consultations will open in early 2026, and then Parliament will impose rules that will take effect.