Minimal Incision Facelift

ABSTRACT

Many procedures have been developed in an attempt to improve facial ptosis. These have ranged from subcutaneous dissections with skin excision to deeper dissections focused on supporting the superficial musculoaponeurotic system and even the periosteal layer. These deeper dissections, although theoretically giving better and longer lasting results, also carry an increased risk of complications. This article describes a new facelift technique that minimizes complications while maximizing cosmetic results (especially in the neck and jowl areas) and patients' comfort and satisfaction. Aesthetic results (as determined by pre- and postoperative photographs) and complications of 35 consecutive patients undergoing both traditional rhytidectomy and minimal incision facelift are compared. The minimal incision facelift technique has shown improved cosmetic results and a decreased complication rate compared with traditional rhytidectomy and is a safe and very effective technique for the treatment of facial ptosis.

KEYWORDS

Facelift - facial ptosis - tissue glue

REFERENCES

• 1 Skoog T. Plastic surgery: the aging face. In: Skoog TG Plastic Surgery: New Methods and Refinements. Philadelphia; WB Saunders 1974: 300-330
• 2 Mitz V, Peyronie M. The superficial musculo-aponeurotic system (SMAS) in the parotid and cheek area.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 1976;  58 80-88
• 3 Ramirez O M. The subperiosteal rhytidectomy: the third generation face-lift.  Ann Plast Surg. 1992;  28 218-232
• 4 Hamra S T. The deep plane rhytidectomy.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 1990;  86 53-61
• 5 Hamra S. Composite rhytidectomy.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 1992;  90 1-13
• 6 Parkes M L, Kamer F M, Bassilios M I. Treatment of alopecia in temporal region following rhytidectomy procedures.  Laryngoscope. 1977;  87 1011-1014
• 7 Webster R C, Smith R C, Smith K F. Facelift, part I: extent of undermining of skin flaps.  Head Neck Surg. 1983;  5 525-534
• 8 Fezza J P, Cartwright M, Mack W et al.. The use of aerosolized fibrin glue in face-lift surgery.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;  110 658-664