Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine

Rhytidectomy

Rhytidectomy (facelift) is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the head and neck. Traditional approaches to rhytidectomy (facelift), such as superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) imbrication or plication procedures, can significantly improve changes in the lower face and in the neck caused by aging. These procedures are discussed in the Medscape Reference article SMAS Facelift Rhytidectomy.

The deep plane facelift was developed as a modification of standard facelift techniques to correct facial changes caused by aging that are due to ptosis of midface structures (malar fat pad). The deep plane facelift also attempts to correct deep nasolabial folds.  Other techniques (excluding specific midface procedures) do not adequately address these problems.

In carefully selected patients, deep plane rhytidectomy (facelift) can be safely performed with a high level of patient satisfaction. The surgeons' goal is to obtain a pleasing aesthetic result that appears natural and provides no evidence of an operation. This article discusses the preoperative evaluation and surgical techniques that help surgeons select patients who may benefit from a deep plane rhytidectomy procedure.