Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery ISSN: 0970-0358 EISSN: 1998-376x Vol. 37, Num. 2, 2004, pp. 115-120

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 37, No. 2, July-December, 2004, pp. 115-120

Original Article

Different levels of undermining in face lift - Experience of 141 consecutive cases

Panettiere Pietro, Marchetti Lucio, Accorsi Danilo, Del Gaudio Giovanni-Alberto

Università degli Studi di Bologna, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Rianimatorie e dei Trapianti, Clinica Chirurgica IV, Italy.
Address for correspondence: Pietro Panettiere, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Rianimatorie e
dei Trapianti, Clinica Chirurgica IV, Policlinico S. Orsola, via Massarenti, 9, 40128 Bologna (Bo), Italy. E-mail: prof.panettiere@jumpy.it

Code Number: pl04026

Abstract

Keywords: Lifting, SMAS, platysma, face, neck, forehead, rhytidectomy

INTRODUCTION

The acknowledgment of the role played by the Sub Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) radically changed the approach to rhytidectomy. Each face layer suffers from aging effects differently depending on its biomechanical features, on its location and on the presence of anatomical suspension points. The technique proposed by us aims at correcting face-aging effects by individually repositioning the neck, face and forehead layers in a harmonious fashion, preventing face distortion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1996 to 2001, 141 consecutive patients (average age 55 years, range 45-77 years, 137 women, 4 men) underwent face-neck-lift. The main associated factors were smoking (27% were heavy smokers) and moderate hypertension (12%). Fourteen surgeries (10%) were secondary procedures. All patients presented with face ptosis, associated with neck laxity in 125 patients (89%), brows descent in 24 (17%), blepharocalasis in 87 (62%) and perioral wrinkling in 25 (18%).

Under general anesthesia, a standard incision was performed and the SMAS was exposed by a delicate subcutaneous dissection of the cheeks extending superiorly to the zygomatic arch, medially to the nasolabial fold, and caudally connecting to the neck dissection plane. The subcutaneous dissection plane was always as close as possible to the SMAS to preserve the superficial vascular net. The undermining continued cephalad just superficial to the temporalis fascia, extending medially to the orbicularis oculi muscle. All the patients received forehead undermining: 24 patients (with evident eyebrows descent) underwent a coronal subperiosteal lift, while the others received a blind dissection subperiosteal forehead lift. Forehead periosteum elevation was extremely easy even if performed by blind dissection, using an endoscopic dissector. No particular care was required at this level, besides when reaching the orbital margins, where the supraorbital artery and nerve were protected by simply keeping one finger delicately pressed against the supraorbital notch. Undermining extended beyond the orbital margin in all patients, until reaching the orbicularis oculi muscle. When glabellar wrinkling was evident, procerus and corrugator supercilii muscles were also divided. The superficial temporalis fascia was then suspended to the deep temporalis fascia by two non-absorbable stitches (4.0 Polypropilene) directed respectively cephalad and posteriorly [Figure - 1], A1-2) in order to prevent eye profile distortion.

The neck was widely undermined, preceded by reduced pressure submental liposuction when necessary. When marked neck tissue laxity was present, the platysma was released from the sternocleidomastoid muscle and dissected for about 5 to 6 cm, and its margin was secured with non-absorbable (5.0 Polypropylene) stitches to the mastoid eminence [Figure - 1], A4). After both sides had been properly exposed, a 2 cm wide SMAS band from the zygomatic eminence to the ear lobule insertion [Figure - 1], A3) was either resected or plicated (depending on the amount of tissue to be redistributed) and sutured with non-absorbable stitches (5.0 Polypropylene). The traction vector was therefore directed from the oral rim to the auricularis tubercle in the midface and from the thyroidal cartilage to the mastoid eminence in the neck. SMAS treatment was always performed after both sides had been fully dissected, in order to calibrate and balance the tension, also keeping in mind the anesthesia-induced relaxation. Platysmal bands were treated by excising two muscular triangles (about 1.5 cm long) near the hyoid bone [Figure - 1], B5) and then approximating and suturing the bands in their supra-hyoid tract. Skin resection and sutures completed the procedure as usual. All procedures were performed by the senior author and only the superficial sutures were a "four hands work". The average surgery time was 175 ± 25 minutes, excluding the time required for major associated procedures. Blood pressure was strictly monitored (NIBP) during the operation and for the first six hours after surgery, keeping a slight hypotension during undermining, and resuming the preoperative values when performing hemostasis. The undermined areas were dressed using an adhesive sponge (Reston ®) to prevent postoperative hematomas. A subcutaneous suction drainage was kept in place for 24 hours, while the slightly compressive elastic dressing was removed six days after surgery. All patients received antibiotics for five days.

All the 141 patients underwent a face-neck lift associated [in 125 patients (89%)] with platysmal suspension [Figure - 2]- [Figure - 3] or platysmal bands treatment [Figure - 3], [Figure - 4] A-B). Coronal forehead lift was performed in 24 patients (17%) [Figure - 5], upper eyelid blepharoplasty in 87 patients (62%, [Figure - 2] A-B, 4 A-B) and lower lid blepharoplasty in 39 patients (28%) [Figure - 4] C-D). Seven patients with blepharocalasis and huge lower lids fat pads (5%) received delayed lower lid blepharoplasty (about six months after face lift), in order to obtain better fat resection and prevent hollow eyes formation. Perioral dermabrasion was carried out in 16 patients (11%, [Figure - 4] C-D), submental liposuction in 11 (8%), synchronous rhinoplasty in 11 (8%) and mandibular profile correction in four (3%, [Figure - 2] C-D). Only face lift was performed in 38 patients (27%), face lift with or without synchronous blepharoplasty in 99 (70%), while face lift with other associated procedures (submental liposuction, perioral dermabrasion, rhinoplasty or mandibular profile correction) in 42 patients (30%).

RESULTS

Edema and postoperative hematomas were significantly reduced and well hidden by camouflage make-up seven or ten days after surgery in all cases. All patients requested analgesics for no more than two days.

A small 3 to 4 mm wide, cutaneous necrosis in the preauricular area occurred in one patient (a secondary lifting in a heavy smoker), and was resolved by necrosectomy, a minimal undermining and re-suture in an outpatient setting. A transitory unilateral facial nerve weakening occurred in one patient receiving associated mandibular profile correction. The overall complications rate was 1.4%.

The one-year follow-up standard pictures were examined by two independent, well-trained plastic surgeons. They were asked to assess the appropriateness of the lift and the naturalness of the aspect. They considered the results in 96% of the patients as satisfactory. In three patients (2.1%) insufficient flattening of the nasolabial folds occurred, while perioral wrinkling persisted in two patients (1.4%); in one patient (0.7%) a minimal variation of the ear slope occurred. All defects were mild or moderate and no patient asked for revision surgery.

No significant difference was found in the overall aesthetic results between the patients receiving face lift only (with or without blepharoplasty) and those receiving associated procedures (rhinoplasty, submental liposuction, mandibular profile correction or perioral dermabrasion). The complications rate was higher in the latter group (2% vs. 1%), but no significant difference was found when the chi-square test was applied. No significant difference was found in the overall aesthetic results between patients receiving coronal lifting and those receiving blind forehead dissection.

The average follow-up was 58 months (range: 26 - 95 months, dropout: 8%). The degree of satisfaction was very high and the majority of the patients required no further treatment. In eight patients (6%), fillers injection for superficial wrinkling was performed (minimum 51 months after surgery).

DISCUSSION

The aim of face-neck lift is to rejuvenate the face and the neck, avoiding the so-called "face-lifted" appearance,[1] whilst minimizing the risks.

Our approach to performing a face lift is based on biomechanical and anatomical considerations. The periosteum undergoes no aging-related plastic event but it can preserve the tension applied to it due to its very high breaking strength and its scarce or null stress-relaxation effect. The way that overlaying structures follow periosteal stretching depends on the thickness and the number of the superimposing planes. SMAS stretching is the basis for modern rhytidectomy surgery. It is its high-stretch resistance and its scarce extensibility which makes SMAS tensing relatively stable over time.[2] Skin breaking strength is high, but its strong plastic properties can rapidly reset stretching effects. In our opinion, skin undermining should be wide (i.e. if an envelope is wider than its content, it should be trimmed to fit it) and as close to the SMAS as possible, in order to preserve the fine and rich superficial vascular net. The lateral part of the face is supplied by arteries passing through the SMAS. Nevertheless, subcutaneous undermining seems to have no effect on the vitality of the skin flap.[3],[4] In our experience, no ischemic lesion occurred when no specific risk factor was present (secondary lifting, heavy smokers) perhaps because of the accurate skin dissection that preserved the superficial vascular net.

In the neck area, the distance between fix anchoring points and superficial layers is much higher than in the face, and all structures act essentially as bridges between the mandible and the hyoid bone, the sternum and the clavicle. Relaxation is more evident in the sector between the chin and the hyoid bone, where the platysma plays an essential role. In the technique we are proposing, the excess of laxity is redistributed laterally and superiorly, harmonizing the platysmal tension with SMAS stretching in the midface, and thus restoring the submental angle. When platysmal bands are evident, the excision of two small tissue triangles improves the results by increasing the length of platysmal medial margins.

The effect of gravity on the tissues cannot be simplified as a vertical drop, thus different resistance and elasticity, fixed points (the lateral aspect of the nose, the anterior profile of the ear), and less sliding areas (the malar eminence) should be considered. The resulting vectors are therefore differently directed in each area. The three-zone undermining technique stems from these considerations. The temporalis fascia tensioning during subperiosteal forehead lifting determines a good distension of the lateral part of the midface and prevents the eye profile distortion, with optimal tissue redraping and no need of supplementary scars[5] or subperiosteal midface undermining.[1],[6]

The medial portion of the SMAS has a much more scattered and irregular collagen architecture and exhibits greater distensibility.[7] In our technique, the SMAS is either resected or plicated more medially than in traditional techniques, in order to take full advantage of this peculiarity.

The basic concept of both composite flaps[8] and subperiosteal rhytidectomy is to maintain the physiologic relationships between planes.[9] But the aging process does not act "en-bloc": the skin, the SMAS and the underlying muscles have different elastic features and are relatively free to slide reciprocally. So, in our opinion, "en-bloc" corrections cannot reset the relationships among the planes, but they simply reposition all the layers a bit cephalad, so that those undergoing less creeping could result excessively high and those more relaxed could appear as insufficiently corrected.

The cornerstones of our approach to face lift are:

• individual repositioning of each plane
• taking advantage of the biomechanical features of each layer and
• harmonization of the forehead, the face and the neck

References

Copyright 2004 - Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery

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