Venous Drainage of the Face

Publication date: Available online 14 December 2016
Source:Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Author(s): S. Onishi, N. Imanishi, Y. Yoshimura, Y. Inoue, Y. Sakamoto, H. Chang, T. Okumoto
The venous anatomy of the face was examined in 12 fresh cadavers. Venograms and arteriovenograms were obtained after injection of contrast medium. In eight of the 12 cadavers, a large loop was formed by the facial vein, the supratrochlear vein, and the superficial temporal vein, which became the main trunk vein of the face. In four of the 12 cadavers, the superior lateral limb of the loop vein was less well developed. The loop vein generally did not accompany the arteries of the face. Cutaneous branches of the loop vein formed a polygonal venous network in the skin, while communicating branches ran toward deep veins. These findings suggest that blood from the dermis of the face is collected by the polygonal venous network and enters the loop vein through the cutaneous branches, after which it flows away from the face via the superficial temporal vein, the facial vein, and the communicating branches and enters the deep veins.



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