Global facial rejuvenation, new technique

Introduction

The aging of the face can produce the following effects: elongation of the lower eyelid, flattery of the malignant eminences, volumetric loss in the undersea area of the cheek, prominence of the cheeks and deepening of the nasolabial fold. The facial support ligaments support the soft tissue of the face in a normal anatomical position, resisting the gravitational change. In 1976, Mitz and Peyronie^[1] described the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and after this date multiple surgical procedures were improved. These techniques produce excellent results, but require a thorough dissection and have the potential for greater morbidity. The anatomical distribution of the facial nerve has been studied by various authors^[2] and during the surgical dissection the most dangerous area of the face, the most worried one, must be considered. The frontal branch is one of the most commonly damaged nerves in plastic surgery. The path of the frontal branch can be drawn on the skin by two divergent lines that start from the region of the earlobe and go^[3] to the lateral extremity of the eyebrow^[4] and to the highest front fold. To locate the frontal branches it is useful to look for the superficial temporal artery. The branches of the buccal and zygomatic nerve have a deep position and in the nasolabial fold there is an excess of skin and fat which provides greater protection to the underlying nerve. The mandibular branch^[5] is located above the lower margin of the mandible in 80% of the cases, in the remaining 20% it forms an arch under the lower edge of this bone and always flows inside or in depth of the muscle fibers of the platysma so in this area there is almost no danger of injuring the nerve. In this study, the authors, Colombo and Ruvolo, describe a new simple and safe face lifting technique, the KORU technique, designed for their patients and to guide the young surgeons in a first approach to this surgical procedure.

Methods

Between October 2010 and October 2012, 31 patients were operated using the facial lifting surgical technique, called KOru, conceived by the authors Colombo and Ruvolo. There were 25 women and 6 men. The age of the patients ranged between 35 and 64 years. All patients underwent the primary facelift.

Technical description

The skin incision is performed along the temporal hairline and extends into the conventional position of the facelift in the postural auricular groove, posteriorly extending on the mastoid following an external auditory canal line. The skin flap is elevated in a subcutaneous plane and the dissection extends up to 2 cm from the labial commissure to respect the buccal branches of the facial nerve. Inferiorly the dissection is carried out to expose the neck and the mandibular edge, externally extending up to the orbital edge and beyond the upper edge of the zygoma. The authors suggest that the dissection is safer and it’s less difficult to find the right dissection plan if the surgeon started from the temporal region. All face-lift procedures were associated with a blepharoplasty using the technique of Adamson et al.^[6] and Mendelson^[7]. The SMAS plications are performed on four vectors: the first vector passes from the external cantus to the tragus and gives a vertical direction; the second vector goes from Darwin to the tragus and gives a vertical/oblique direction; the third vector goes from the angle of the jaw to the Lore band; the fourth vector that goes from the back/subauric platisma to the mastoid. The last two vectors give a vertical direction and an angle definition of the jaw that draws a U around the earlobe [Figures 1-3].

Figure 1. Temporoparietal fascial

Figure 2. Traction points

Figure 3. Superficial musculoaponeurotic system

The choice of these traction points was according to the area of the face where the branches of the facial nerve are deeper to work safely. A plication suture performed between cantus and tragus was made to create a spindle to restore the cheek volume [Figure 4]. The suture [Figures 5 and 6] takes less tissue on the marginal area in the direction of cantus and tragus and takes more tissue in the central zone of placation, in this way the author restores the loss of volume at a point of greater projection of the face and gives an all-round look 3D topography that is delineated by series of arcs and convexities^[8-18][Figure 2].

Figure 4. Emplicature superficial musculoaponeurotic system

Figure 5. Cute positioning for sutures

Figure 6. Cut of the skin flaps on the delimeted line

Results

The authors performed 31 interventions, using the KORU technique, from October 2010 to October 2012. In no case there were infections, there was minimal tension on the suture line. There is minimal postoperative edema, as well as minimal postoperative bruising. This technique produces effective results, supports a volume of midface without causing injury to the facial nerve. This study showed a new, safe approach to facial rejuvenation combining the elements of the SMAS placenta with a blepharoplasty to achieve long-term improvement of middle-aged aging and a more natural effect. The low incidence of morbidity was accompanied by rapid convalescence and most patients were able to return to work and social activities very early with excellent satisfaction.

After a follow-up of the treated patients, the authors saw that there were no errors, but experiences described by the patients related to the feeling of tension in the tissue fixation points.

Like all the techniques, at the beginning the authors had slightly longer intervention times than traditional techniques, but the results were excellent.

During the execution of this new technique there were no errors with important post-operative aesthetic consequences.

There were initial difficulties in finding the plans despite the reference points mentioned above.

Discussion

After the description of SMAS in 1976^[1], surgical attempts to correct aging were directed towards stiffening techniques of SMAS. The introduction of Hamra^[19] of deep-plane rhytidectomy in 1990 focused attention on a completely new concept of rejuvenation through the composite repositioning of facial tissues. The peripheral anatomy of the facial nerve has been intensively studied by various authors; they analyzed the anatomical distribution of the branches and the different types of nerve connections that exist between them. This document describes a new safe lifting technique that preserves the facial nerve and may be easier. This procedure has opened up the chances of further morbidity in lifting the median face. The dissection of the skin flap initiated with temporal region incision, the SMAS placation was performed by three sutures describing three vectors. The superior suture that goes from the external cantus to the tragus is made to produce an even more sickly increase. While the platysma suture on the mastioid minimizes tension on the suture line. The authors, Colombo and Ruvolo, always associate SMAS plication with Adamson blepharoplasty and a fat sliding on Mendelson. An additional technique is performed for blepharoplasty with a lower lid. This operative procedure uses the principle of anchoring the upper edge of the lower lid by suturing a triangular flap of the muscle from it to the upper lateral part of the orbital rim. This more effective support for the lower edge of the lid allows the redundant fabric to be removed without obtaining an ectropion^[20]. The concept of replacing the protruding fat of the lower lid in the orbit and keeping it there by strengthening the orbital septum is tempting because it embodies the goal of cosmetic surgery to restore the juvenile ideal by reversing the structural changes of aging. This concept is in contrast to that of standard blepharoplasty procedures that use a simple excision and narrowing approach to obtain a superfcial improvement. Based on their experience, the authors believe that SMAS plication and SMAS staining provide similar results 5-10, so they only choose the blepharoplasty plication procedure, obtaining the important result as an excellent aesthetic result with a high level of patient satisfaction. The KORU face lifting technique that affects the central area, the orbital area and the neck gives a global refreshing appearance to the face, giving a natural look.

This new technique is a possibility to replace the face-lift.