[Current aspects of facelift surgery]

In the care of the aging face, the facelift procedure occupies the center of attention. Of the many techniques available, only a few procedures fulfill the justifiable expectations that both patient and physician should have of such an intervention to reach the four goals of a facelift operation: create a natural, nonoperated appearance, obtain long-term durability, ensure a minimal complication rate, and restore or maintain a youthful vibrancy. This can especially be achieved with the so-called super-extended face lift with SMAS dissection, rotation, and refixation. Besides possessing surgical skill, every surgeon working in the field of aesthetic surgery must have a "concept of beauty" as defined by Connell and Levy, i.e., the surgeon must recognize the entirety of the face as an aesthetic unit and plan each intervention on an individual basis. Thus, in many cases it is not only necessary to correct the cheek and neck area, but also to take the forehead/eyebrow section into consideration.