Submental perforating artery: A culprit of bleeding during facelift

Abstract

The aim of the study was to elucidate the precise anatomical detail of the submental perforating artery (SPA) and avoid bleeding during the facelift operation or submental procedures. Latex-injected heads of eight fresh Korean cadavers (6 male, 2 female) were used. After the facial artery was found, the dissection was continued anteriorly, following the submental artery (SMA). When the SMA ran anteriorly about 15.5 mm (15.5 ± 2.2 mm) from the facial artery and reached about halfway from the gonion to the menton, it gave off one or two perforating branches (SPA, mean number 1.6). The SPA ran upward and forward until it reached the skin. Diameter of the SPA at its beginning was 1.25 ± 0.36 mm. The point of emergence of the SPA from the SMA was about halfway (49% ± 14%) from the gonion to the menton, about 6 mm (6.1 ± 1.9 mm) inferior to the lower border of mandible. The high risk of injuring the vessels during the facelift can be explained by the close vicinity of the SPA to the mandibular inferior border.