Facelift light, rhytidoplasty for the treatment of the face and neck lower third with reduced scarring and adhesion points
Facelift light, ritidoplastia para tratamento do terço inferior da face e pescoço com cicatriz reduzida e pontos de adesão

INTRODUCTION

Non-surgical aesthetic procedures, such as botulinum toxin and fillers, are increasingly delaying the indication for facial lifting, especially in the frontotemporal region¹. In this context, we observed a lack of publications that contemplate the mini facelift technique with a reduced scar standardization as part of the therapeutic arsenal for the face middle and lower thirds treatment.

Thus, we used the facelift light technique standardization, which consists in moderate detachment, demarcated in the preoperative period, as well as its execution with specific points for the detachment, associated with the plication of the superficial aponeurotic system (SMAS) and the points of adhesion (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4). Standardized preoperative marking makes this technique reproducible and with less learning curve, but without compromising the results. The SMAS plication proved to be essential for the best treatment and lasting traction, associated with a reduction in skin tension, with less risk of flap necrosis and a better quality of the scar.

Figure 1 - Standardized marking of the detachment area, showing the incision site. Arrows indicate the area to be detached, 4-6 cm from the lobe.

Figure 1 - Standardized marking of the detachment area, showing the incision site. Arrows indicate the area to be detached, 4-6 cm from the lobe.

Figure 2 - Red line represents the skin mark to be removed, with the drawing of the tragus flap. Lilac line represents the post-tragal and periauricular incision.

Figure 2 - Red line represents the skin mark to be removed, with the drawing of the tragus flap. Lilac line represents the post-tragal and periauricular incision.

Figure 3 - SMAS plication points, with traction direction. The suture order starting at the angle of the mandible.

Figure 3 - SMAS plication points, with traction direction. The suture order starting at the angle of the mandible.

Figure 4 - Adhesion points. Stitches with monocryl 4.0 (in white) and colorless mononylon 4.0 (in blue).

Figure 4 - Adhesion points. Stitches with monocryl 4.0 (in white) and colorless mononylon 4.0 (in blue).

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the results of the facelift light as a standardized and reproducible technique, the moderate SMAS detachment and plication, with natural results, associated with lower rates of complications and early return to activities.

METHODS

Two hundred eighty-four patients who underwent rhytidoplasty using the facelift light technique were operated on from 2014 to 2020, 39 were men. Patients aged between 31 and 84 years (with a mean of 56 years). All patients were operated on and observed by the same surgeon and author of this study (2014 - 24, 2015 - 35, 2016 - 33, 2017 - 42, 2018 - 51, 2019 - 80, 2020 - 19).

Surgical technique

With the patient in an orthostatic position, the preoperative marking of the region of the incision is made, of the region to be released and of the possible skin to be removed (Figures 1 and 2). Taking the location of the ear lobe insertion as the center of the circumference, we make a circle that varies from 4 to 6 centimeters, according to the existing alterations in the mandible branch (“jowl” or “bulldog”) and the platysmal bands of the neck. In the submental region, liposuction is already scheduled, if necessary.

All patients were operated on a hospital operating room under local anesthesia associated with sedation. Local infiltration was performed with lidocaine solution (40 ml), saline solution (120 ml), and an adrenaline ampoule.

The incision is made only in the glabrous area, so there is no need to cut hair. The incision starts at the rib capillary region (around 1.5 cm), breaking at an angle of 90 degrees in the pre-auricular region, descending retrotragal, and outlining the ear from its posterior region to its upper portion (Figure 2). Subcutaneous detachment is done initially with the scalpel and then with scissors in the demarcated area.

The second step is the plication of the superficial muscle-aponeurotic system (SMAS), made with colorless nylon 4.0 (Figure 3). Starting the suture through the mandible branch, then in the anterior region, and finally in the posterior region, leaving the entire surface smooth and without sagging. The next step is the adhesion suture of the entire flap, made with monocryl 4.0, pulling gently without marking the skin too much (Figure 4). The adhesion points follow the same order as the SMAS, starting with the mandible branch.

After the excess skin is removed, adjusting with the drawing made previously, there may be the need to remove a little more or less. The skin is sutured with monocryl 4.0 and, finally, with a continuous intradermal suture performed with monocryl 5.0; there is no need for drains. The last step is liposuction of the subment, made by a small median incision in the subment. And the compressive dressing with gauze around the ear, padded gauze, and the elastic band. The dressing is renewed 24 hours after discharge (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Marking, detachment, adhesion points, excess skin, suture and dressing.

Figure 5 - Marking, detachment, adhesion points, excess skin, suture and dressing.

RESULTS

Partial results are seen in the first few weeks, especially after lymphatic drainage. After a month, edema is no longer observed. In the long term, the surgery can be redone around 5 to 7 years, and since it does not change the hair implant, it can be done several times over the years without leaving stigmas, as seen in one year postoperative (Figures 6 and 7). The complications were much less, where the rare hematomas were restricted to small regions drained by 7-day transcutaneous puncture (12 cases). The main complaint is the persistence in elderly and post-bariatric patients of some skin in the central cervical region.

Figure 6 - Postoperative period of 2 months and 1 year.

Figure 6 - Postoperative period of 2 months and 1 year.

Figure 7 - Postoperative with detail in the retroauricular region.

Figure 7 - Postoperative with detail in the retroauricular region.

DISCUSSION

Facial rejuvenation must encompass several complementary forms of treatment and act effectively in all facial regions. The rising cosmiatric arsenal, with fillers added to the botulinum toxin, puts into question the broad coronal lifting, especially in younger patients. In older individuals, understanding the interaction between these complex anatomical changes is essential when choosing a surgical strategy, which can vary from periorbital treatment, through conservative frontal lifting, to radical liftings in this region².

Facelift light is approached in this study as an alternative for the face middle and lower thirds treatment, with a standardized, reproducible mark; with a reduced scar, moderate detachment, plication of the SMAS and points of adhesion; as well as with natural results, few complications and early return of patients to daily activities.

Standardized preoperative marking facilitates the technique reproducibility with more accessible and safer learning compared to classic rhytidoplasty or aggressive detachments³. Since the most aggressive and profound approaches, or large detachments, bring an even higher risk of other complications, such as injuries to facial nerve branches and flaps suffering ⁴.

Several authors report that they have reduced the detachments’ amplitude and realized that results are equally good and very similar to those obtained with the broader and more generalized detachments used before. These are now reserved for cases of great skin flaccidity and for those who need large cervical degreasing associated with platysma plication^5,6.

Another essential point of rhytidoplasty is the treatment of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) ^5,7, as it has become essential during the performance of the facial lifting, since it determines the elevation and traction of the tissue planes, with long-term effects⁸. These techniques can be used, ranging from mobilization, plication, and repositioning, to subaponeurotic resections. In this context, the facelift light is performed with the standardized plication of the SMAS, without detachment and deep resections, to reduce the risk of injury to the subaponeurotic structures.

The use of adhesion points applied in the pre and behind-the-ear regions reduced to zero the incidence of large bruises requiring urgent surgical drainage^9,10, making the use of drains unnecessary with the use of this technique.

Thus, the rejuvenation surgery of the face middle and lower thirds has been evolving to perform less invasive and less aggressive techniques, in order to reduce complications and provide an earlier return to the usual activities of patients^8-12; without, however, compromising the occurrence of natural and satisfactory results to patients.

CONCLUSION

The facelift light technique was considered satisfactory due to the quality of the results obtained in this series, the low rate of complications, and the early return of patients to their activities.