Overview
The sentinel vein matters in temporal face lift surgery and temple filler injection, but detailed data on its position and shape were lacking. The authors dissected 20 cadavers and scanned 20 healthy volunteers with ultrasound. They recorded the vein's course, size, depth, tributaries, surface projection and relation to the frontal branch of the facial nerve.
Findings
- 20 cadavers (40 temporal regions) dissected; 20 healthy volunteers (40 temporal regions) scanned by ultrasound.
- The sentinel vein has a mean of 2.4 tributaries.
- It falls into 6 confluence types based on how the tributaries join.
- It has a horizontal segment and a vertical segment.
- The horizontal segment runs parallel to the skin, between the superficial temporal fascia and the subcutaneous fat.
- The vertical segment drains into the middle temporal vein.
- The vein's surface projection and its relation to the frontal branch of the facial nerve were relatively consistent.
- The authors quantified surface reference points for the vein; the abstract does not give the measurements.
What it means for a patient
- In temple lifts and temple filler injections, the sentinel vein can help locate the nerve branch that raises the eyebrow.
- A consistent position helps the surgeon or injector plan where to work.
- Limits: an anatomy study of 20 cadavers and 20 volunteers. It reports no patient outcomes, and the abstract does not give the reference distances.
Why this paper matters
It sets out 6 patterns of the sentinel vein and maps its position against the frontal branch of the facial nerve. The authors present these as anatomic references for temporal rhytidectomy and temple filler injection.
Terms
- Sentinel vein: a vein in the temple area used as a reference point in surgery and injections.
- Tributary: a smaller vein that joins a larger one.
- Temporal rhytidectomy: a lift of the temple area.
- Superficial temporal fascia: a thin tissue layer just under the fat of the temple.
- Frontal branch of the facial nerve: the nerve branch that raises the eyebrow.
- Middle temporal vein: a deeper vein of the temple that the sentinel vein drains into.
- Ultrasonography: imaging with sound waves to see structures under the skin.
- Cadaver: a donated human body used for study.