[Conservative forehead facelift. Design and preliminary results]

The digastric occipitofrontalis muscle, as described in classical anatomy text books, does not exist. The epicranial aponeurosis or galea aponeurotica receives the occipitalis muscle on its deep surface and the frontalis muscle on its superficial surface. This revised anatomy of the concept of the frontal cutaneo-musculo-aponeurotic unit, combining skin, galea and frontalis muscle (frontal CMAU) is the basis for a new forehead facelift which corrects ageing of the forehead, essentially related to recession of the forehead and relaxation of the galea. The essential advantage of this new facelift is preservation of the frontalis muscle which plays a fundamental role not only in forehead expression, but also in support and elevation of the eyelids. The absence of any direct procedure on the frontalis muscle decreases the extent of skin resection and avoids or minimizes sensory or motor neurological complications.