Short-scar facelift without temporal flap: a 10-year experience

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Facial Rejuvenation

Background:

• Aging leads to facial changes, driving demand for effective facelift techniques.
• Modern facelifts aim for less invasive procedures with natural, enduring outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail a specific facelift (rhytidectomy) technique developed over 10 years.
• To evaluate the outcomes and complication rates of this technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, descriptive study of 113 rhytidectomy patients (2002-2012).
• All surgeries performed under local anesthesia with conscious sedation by a single surgeon.
• Detailed step-by-step surgical technique described in the main article.

Main Results:

• 113 patients (88.9% female, mean age 55.3 years) underwent the procedure.
• Low major complication rate (0.8% - temporary facial nerve paresis).
• Minor complication rate was 23.1%, primarily hypertrophic/keloid scars (77.8% of minor complications).

Conclusions:

• The described rhytidectomy technique yields good, long-lasting aesthetic results.
• It is associated with shorter scars and reduced dissection areas.
• The technique facilitates a shorter patient recovery period.