Anatomy-Driven Aesthetic Design for Facial Contouring in Northeast Asian Females: A Conceptual Framework and Case...

Facial filler contouring is commonly planned within a volume-centric framework emphasizing product selection and localized augmentation. Although widely used, such approaches may not always clearly separate material selection from aesthetic design intent or fully incorporate population-specific anatomical characteristics, particularly in Northeast Asian faces. This proof-of-concept case report proposes an anatomy-informed, design-oriented conceptual framework that prioritizes whole-face contour continuity and anatomically appropriate pathways over isolated volumetric correction. A population-contextualized Reference Facial Form is introduced as a qualitative design reference from which aesthetic intent is translated into geometric principles and subsequently into predefined vectors. In this framework, vectors are structured cannula-based trajectories defined by specific entry points, advancement directions, withdrawal pathways, and deep anatomical planes. Procedural planning is guided by predefined procedural conditions-including anatomical entry points, vector orientation, and relative filler distribution within deep planes-rather than primarily by fixed injection volumes. The framework is illustrated through a single two-stage clinical case. The initial stage used an off-label diluted polycaprolactone-based admixture to establish broad deep-plane structural support, followed by selective contour refinement with hyaluronic acid fillers after initial stabilization. Early clinical images illustrated the correspondence between the planned vectors and early contour formation but were not suitable for establishing treatment efficacy or durability. The available follow-up was also insufficient to establish long-term safety. Fifteen de-identified supplementary cases constituted a criterion-defined consecutive illustrative series demonstrating recurrent vector and entry-point patterns across similar anatomical contexts; they were not analyzed as a validation or outcome cohort. By framing facial filler contouring as a design-first process, this framework may provide a conceptual language for clinical planning and education. Its clinical efficacy, inter-operator reproducibility, generalizability, and long-term safety require evaluation in larger, systematically designed studies.