Effective Locations for Injecting Botulinum Toxin into the Mentalis Muscle; Cadaveric and Ultrasonographic Study

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Facial Aesthetics
• Cosmetic Procedures

Background:

• The mentalis muscle is crucial for lower facial rejuvenation procedures.
• Accurate anatomical knowledge is essential for effective clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the anatomical morphology and location of the mentalis muscle.
• To provide data for optimizing lower facial aesthetic procedures.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of 44 adult hemifaces (Thai and Korean cadavers).
• Ultrasonographic study of 66 hemifaces from healthy Korean subjects.
• Measurement of mentalis muscle depth, thickness, and bone distance.

Main Results:

• Two mentalis muscle shapes identified: dome-shaped (Type A, 86.4%) and flat (Type B, 13.6%).
• Muscle located 5-10 mm from the midsagittal line and 20-30 mm from mouth corners.
• Muscle depth ranges from 6.7 to 10.7 mm below the skin surface.

Conclusions:

• Provides precise anatomical data for the mentalis muscle.
• Aids in identifying optimal injection points and depths for botulinum toxin in lower facial aesthetics.