Mini-invasive facelift, an effective procedure through small incisions

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

A restoring procedure of the ageing process of the face should consider the conditions of the soft tissues and the relationship between them and the existing skeletal volume. This could be done through different approaches: open, endoscopic or mini-invasive. To present our concept of mini-invasive facelift, a full facelift through minimal incisions, product of eighteen years of experience.

Methods:

The mini-invasive facelift is done through minimal incisions located on the frontal hairline, temporal area, triangular fossae of the auricle, submentalis sulcus and eyelids. A wide dissection is performed to liberate the parieto-temporal fascia from the zigomatic arch, to pull it up in continuity with the SMAS and the platysma as one continuous layer or composite flap. These structures are selectively fixed to a higher position restoring the location of the soft tissues and the contour of the face.

Results:

We have done this procedure to 672 patients, along 19 years, with minimal complications (described also), and avoiding the pre-auricular incisions in 89% of our patients. In this paper details and tips to perform this procedure in a safer way and to get the most natural results are presented.

Conclusions:

Different approaches are described to perform a face lift with specific mini access views according to the regions to be treated , without periauricular scar round 89% of the operated cases.

Keywords:
Rhytidoplasty; Facial Surgery; Incisions; Surgical Procedures; Minimally Invasive