An added layer of safety
Ultrasound-guided injections
Ultrasound is not a treatment here. It is a safety step. Before we inject, we can use a handheld ultrasound scanner to look beneath your skin, see where the blood vessels run and plan your treatment around them.
Why we scan before we inject
Injectable treatments are very safe in trained hands, but the face is full of blood vessels, and everyone's anatomy is a little different. The most serious complication with filler, though rare, happens when product affects a blood vessel. Knowing where those vessels are is the best way to avoid them.
Traditionally, practitioners rely on anatomy training and careful technique alone. Ultrasound adds a live picture of what is actually under your skin, so we are not working from averages. It is one of the reasons we are proud of how we work, and it is still uncommon in aesthetic clinics.
What it shows us
Blood vessels
Colour Doppler shows blood moving through the arteries and veins under the skin, so we can see exactly where they run in your face.
The layers of your skin
We can see the skin, the fat beneath it, the muscle and the bone, which helps us place product at the right depth.
Existing filler
If you have had filler before, sometimes elsewhere, a scan can show where it sits and how much is still there before anything more is added.
The technology
Clarius L15 handheld ultrasound
We use the Clarius L15, a high-frequency handheld scanner designed for looking at structures close to the surface, like those in the face. It connects wirelessly to a screen, so the scan happens right there on the couch, with nothing bulky in the room.
Its colour Doppler mode shows blood flow in real time: vessels light up on screen, so we can see them clearly and choose the safest route for the needle or cannula.
When we use it
We use ultrasound with dermal filler and Radiesse, and with other injectable treatments where a view beneath the skin adds safety, for example in areas with important blood vessels or where you have had filler before. Your practitioner will explain whether a scan is part of your treatment at your consultation.
What to expect
A small amount of cool gel goes on your skin and the scanner glides gently over the area. It takes a few minutes, it is painless and there is no downtime. You are welcome to watch the screen with us. Then your treatment goes ahead as planned, with the extra reassurance of knowing what lies underneath.
Questions
Does the scan hurt?
No. It is the same kind of ultrasound used in pregnancy scans. A little cool gel goes on the skin and the probe glides over it. There are no needles, no radiation and nothing to recover from.
How long does it take?
Usually just a few minutes, as part of your appointment. You can watch the screen with us if you would like to see what is under your skin.
Why does it matter for filler?
Every face is different, and blood vessels do not always sit where textbooks say. Seeing them before we inject lets us plan around them, which helps lower the risk of the rare but serious complications that can happen when filler affects a blood vessel.
Does every clinic do this?
No. Most clinics inject using anatomy knowledge and technique alone. Ultrasound adds a live view under the skin, and it is still uncommon in aesthetic clinics.
Not sure where to start?
Your consultation is free and there is no obligation to book anything afterwards. Tell us what you would like to change and we will talk you through the options honestly, including when the answer is to wait.