Cadaveric Evidence on Diameters and Cheilion Distances of the Facial Artery and Its Major Branches: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background The facial artery (FA), as the main blood supply of the face, exhibits substantial anatomical variations. This study is the first systematic review and meta‐analysis of cadaveric studies examining the FA and its main branches' prevalence, diameters, and lateral distances to the cheilion, addressing existing controversies. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cadaveric studies was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251180815). PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to May 2025. Outcomes included prevalence, diameters, and lateral distances of the FA and its main branches to the cheilion. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed. Results Twenty‐seven studies encompassing 823 cadavers (1529 hemi‐faces) were included. FA was consistently present at the lower border of the mandible (99.3%) and cheilion (99.9%). The pooled mean FA diameter decreased from 2.36 mm at the mandibular level to 1.90 mm at the cheilion. Superior labial artery (SLA) was the largest branch (1.51 mm at origin), followed by Inferior labial artery (ILA) (1.35 mm) and lateral nasal artery (LNA) (0.87 mm). FA progressively approached the cheilion, along the horizontal axis, from the ILA to SLA origin. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive cadaveric data on FA anatomy for aestheticians and plastic surgeons. Knowledge of the relative anatomy and site‐specific diameter allows injections at safer points with appropriate injector gauges. However, the high variability of the FA course and morphometric features necessitates pre‐procedural vascular mapping, particularly by ultrasonography, to avoid inadvertent vascular complications.