Ultrasound in Aesthetic Medicine: the First Joint Theoretical-Practical Course by Agorà and SIUMB

On Monday, April 13, 2026, the Padova Convention Centre hosted an event of significant educational relevance for Italian aesthetic medicine: the first theoretical-practical course jointly organized by Agorà – Italian Scientific Society of Aesthetic Medicine and the Italian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB). The day represented an important step towards the systematic integration of ultrasound into the clinical practice of the aesthetic physician, with a program that successfully combined scientific rigor, anatomical updates, and direct practical application.

SESSION 1

The first session systematically addressed the normal anatomy of the face through a division into thirds — upper, middle, and lower — with particular attention to the muscular, vascular, and neural evaluation of each district.

Dr. Michela Piludu presented the anatomy of the upper third of the face, encompassing the frontal and periocular regions.

Dr. Andrea Maria Scarpa addressed the anatomy of the middle third of the face, including the zygomatic region, the nasolabial fold, and the inferior periorbita.

Dr. Rossana Golini completed the anatomical overview with a presentation of the lower third of the face, comprising the perioral region, the chin, and the mandible.

SESSION 2

The second part of the day shifted the focus from anatomy to the clinical applications of ultrasound in aesthetic medicine, with particular attention to the prevention and management of complications and the medicolegal implications of ultrasound use.

Dr. Stefania Belletti illustrated the potential of facial ultrasound mapping as a tool for the active prevention of complications in aesthetic medicine treatments. Pre-treatment ultrasound allows identification of previously injected fillers, assessment of tissue plane thickness, localization of anomalous or superficially positioned vascular structures, and detection of calcifications or tissue alterations. Real-time ultrasound guidance also serves as a safety measure during the procedure itself, enabling direct visualization of the needle and monitoring of product distribution within the anatomical planes.

Dr. Marco Papagni addressed the management of medical complications following aesthetic medicine treatments, with particular reference to the role of ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment. Early recognition of an ischemic event — whether ocular or cutaneous — requires a systematic and timely approach: familiarity with emergency protocols, the use of hyaluronidase in hyaluronic acid occlusions, and the availability of an emergency kit are today indispensable standards of practice.

Claudio Plebani, Head of the Legal Department and Secretary General of Agorà, outlined the regulatory framework governing the use of ultrasound in aesthetic medicine, with reference to the 2018 joint SIUMB/SIRM document on the medical ultrasound act and its 2020/2021 Addendum. Ultrasound is an exclusively medical act, non-delegable; it requires a structured training pathway with supervision by accredited tutors; and the report constitutes a mandatory medicolegal document. In aesthetic medicine, it is essential to distinguish three scenarios — ultrasound-assisted visit, ultrasound-assisted procedure, and autonomous ultrasound examination — each carrying different documentation obligations and liability profiles. Regarding professional liability, the Gelli-Bianco Law (Law No. 24/2017) provides that a physician who adheres to accredited guidelines and best clinical practices is criminally liable only for gross negligence: the SIUMB/SIRM document thus serves as a reference standard whose application protects the professional in the event of litigation.

PRACTICAL SESSIONS

Complementing the theoretical program, the day included two hands-on sessions in small groups, held during the morning and afternoon. Participants first followed tutor instructions in the ultrasound exploration of facial structures, and then had the opportunity to operate the equipment independently. This pedagogical approach — tutor-guided first, then autonomous — reflects the SIUMB/SIRM document's requirements, which identifies a structured theoretical-practical pathway under accredited tutor supervision as an essential prerequisite for ultrasound training.

THE COMPLETE AGORÀ–SIUMB TRAINING PROGRAM

The Padova course is one of three educational modules within the joint Agorà–SIUMB training program in ultrasound for aesthetic medicine. The complete pathway consists of:

1. Introductory distance-learning course (FAD) available online as a first approach to the theoretical foundations of ultrasound in aesthetic medicine.

2. Theoretical-practical course a second edition is planned within the SIUMB National Congress, scheduled in Lecce from October 27 to 29, 2026 (dates to be confirmed).

3. Advanced practical course scheduled for June 13, 2026 at the Agorà Clinical Centre (Milan), dedicated to advanced ultrasound techniques and their clinical application.

Completion of all three modules will lead to the award of the Joint Agorà–SIUMB Diploma in ultrasound for aesthetic medicine.

For further information on the training program and registration, please visit: www.societamedicinaestetica.it/ecografia-in-medicina-estetica

A SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION ALREADY IN ACTION

The collaboration between Agorà and SIUMB extends beyond the educational dimension, rooted in a shared scientific endeavor already formalized at the editorial level. Currently in press in the Journal of Ultrasound is the review article "Ultrasound imaging in aesthetic medicine: safety and precision in injectable procedures", written at the institutional invitation of Professor Fabio Piscaglia, President-Elect of SIUMB, by a group of authors from both societies: F. Arrigoni, S. Belletti, C. Caiazzo, M. Cavallini, A. Cordovana, A. De Santis, A. Ferla Lodigiani, R. Lazzari, M. Mariotti, V. Merenda, M.F. Papagni. Publication in an indexed journal of reference for ultrasound diagnostics testifies to the scientific rigor of this initiative and the institutional recognition of aesthetic medicine as a legitimate and rigorous field of clinical ultrasound application.