What the scan is for

Dermal filler does not always behave as expected. It can last considerably longer than the manufacturer’s stated duration, it can move from where it was placed, and a patient who has had treatment over several years may not know what remains or where it sits.

High-frequency ultrasound allows filler deposits to be seen directly, along with their position and depth. It is used to assess what is still present before deciding on any further treatment, and to map and mark deposits before a dissolving procedure.

Who this may be relevant to

• Patients who have had dermal filler in the past and are unsure how much remains
• Patients with swelling, firmness or a change in facial shape some time after treatment
• Patients considering a dissolving procedure who want the deposits located first
• Patients planning further treatment who want to know what is already in place
• Patients who have had treatment elsewhere and have no record of what was used

What the scan involves

The scan is performed with a high-frequency transducer, which The Ultrasound Practice reports as 24MHz. Ultrasound uses sound waves rather than radiation, nothing is injected, and there is no recovery time. The sonographer reviews the images with you at the appointment.

What ultrasound can and cannot tell you

Ultrasound can show deposits consistent with filler material, where they sit in the tissues and how deep they are, and it can be used to mark them on the skin before a procedure.

It cannot identify which product was used or which brand it came from. Different materials appear differently on a scan, and permanent and semi-permanent materials behave differently again from hyaluronic acid. The findings inform a clinical decision, they do not replace one.

If a dissolving procedure is appropriate

Dissolving retained filler is a medical treatment and a separate matter from the scan. It is not carried out by The Ultrasound Practice. If the scan suggests it may be appropriate, it would be discussed at a consultation with one of the Bodyvie doctors, who would assess you and explain what is involved, including the risks. A scan does not commit you to any further treatment.

Who performs the scan

Scanning at 133-135 Kew Road is provided by The Ultrasound Practice, an independent diagnostic imaging provider that rents a room at our Richmond clinic. The Ultrasound Practice is a separate organisation and is not part of Bodyvie. Bodyvie does not perform the scans, does not report them and is not clinically responsible for the imaging or its findings.

The scans are carried out by their own sonographers, Robert Flaherty, Clinical Lead Sonographer, and Bianca Dunne, Specialist Sonographer.

How to arrange a scan

The Ultrasound Practice holds its own patient records, so you would register with them as a new patient and make a booking directly with them. They set their own fees. Your results come to you from them rather than from Bodyvie.

Bookings and enquiries go directly to The Ultrasound Practice, by email at contact@theultrasoundpractice.com. Bodyvie reception cannot take bookings, quote fees or answer questions about scans.

Bodyvie has a commercial arrangement with The Ultrasound Practice, and you are free to have a scan wherever you choose.

Where to find the clinic

The Ultrasound Practice at Bodyvie
133-135 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PN

Step-free access. A short walk from Richmond station.

See also: private ultrasound scans in Richmond and dermal fillers.