When Dr. Kaplan transitioned from Emergency Medicine into Aesthetics in 2019, ultrasound was something she naturally wanted to incorporate into her practice. After working as an Emergency physician for 20 years, she found that ultrasound was a crucial diagnostic tool which helped her manage patients with pregnancy, cardiac, trauma, and surgical related complications. With the help of ultrasound, Dr. Kaplan was able to safely and accurately place central intravenous lines and perform various critical life-saving procedures.

Ultrasound for the placement of Dermal Filler:

Knowing the proper depth to inject dermal filler is crucial in providing a good aesthetic outcome as well as avoiding potentially devastating complications. Vascular occlusion is the dreaded complication of dermal filler which can lead to skin necrosis, stroke or even blindness. Vascular occlusion occurs when dermal filler is inadvertently injected into an artery, causing the blockage of blood flow to the surrounding tissue/skin. Intra-arterial filler injection can also embolize (float to the brain or retinal artery) to cause a stroke or blindness. While all injectors should know the facial anatomy and where arteries are most likely located, there are anatomical variations and not all humans are identical. Ultrasound adds a layer of safety by allowing for precision and accuracy. For someone who is meticulous in attention to detail and safety, Ultrasound is a vital tool which cannot be compromised.

Ultrasound for PDO Thread Lift:

Dr. Kaplan once saw a patient who complained of uneven results after PDO threads placed by a plastic surgeon. Upon investigation with ultrasound, she saw that the PDO thread traversed the layer superficially under the skin but also deeper into the muscle layer in some areas. After realizing how easy it is to incorrectly assume that you are in the proper layer of the skin, Dr. Kaplan decided to use ultrasound to verify suitable placement of her PDO threads.

PDO threads if placed too deep into the muscle can cause suboptimal lifting effects. PDO placed improperly can also lead to injury to vital structures such as nerves, parotid gland, etc.

Ultrasound for Botox and Dysport injections:

When Neuromodulators such as Botox or Dysport are injected, the precise location and depth of the muscles are important in achieving the best outcome. Some areas such as masseters (jaw muscles) can have large variations in depth given everyone’s facial structures are slightly different. The muscles that control the forehead frown lines are closely aligned with nerve bundles that can result in migration of product down to the eyelid muscles, causing eyelid drop (ptosis). Knowing the precise anatomy allows for greater accuracy and improved effectiveness of the neuromodulator treatment as well as reducing any potential complications.

The Type of Ultrasound and experience Matters:

Ultrasound technology has evolved over the years. Using high quality equipment provides superior resolution. Using an ultrasound probe with the proper frequency will allow for visualization of detail in the superficial layers of the skin. If the wrong frequency probe is used without doppler, than arteries, veins and nerves will not be seen even if they are present.

At Rejuve Medspa, Dr. Kaplan prioritizes safety and is meticulous in her attention to detail. She chooses the highest quality equipment, and is well experienced and trained in the proper use of ultrasound in her practice. Dr. Kaplan is one of the first aesthetic providers in the Puget Sound area to incorporate the routine use of ultrasound in a Medical Spa setting.