Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Quantitative Assessment Protocol for Facial Soft Tissue Volumetric Changes with Stereophotogrammetry
Published on: December 9, 2025
Three-Dimensional Analysis of Long-Term Midface Volume Change After Vertical Vector Deep-Plane Rhytidectomy
Andrew A Jacono1, Melanie H Malone1, Benjamin Talei1
1Dr Jacono is the Section Head of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York; and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. Dr Malone is a Resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia and Cornell Universities, New York. Dr Talei is a Fellow at a private facial plastic surgery practice in New York.
Background:
Facial aging is a complicated process that includes volume loss and soft tissue descent. This study provides quantitative 3-dimensional (3D) data on the long-term effect of vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy on restoring volume to the midface.
Objective:
To determine if primary vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy resulted in long-term volume change in the midface.
Methods:
We performed a prospective study on patients undergoing primary vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy to quantitate 3D volume changes in the midface. Quantitative analysis of volume changes was made using the Vectra 3D imaging software (Canfield Scientific, Inc, Fairfield, New Jersey) at a minimum follow-up of 1 year.
Results:
Forty-three patients (86 hemifaces) were analyzed. The average volume gained in each hemi-midface after vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy was 3.2 mL.
Conclusions:
Vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy provides significant long-term augmentation of volume in the midface. These quantitative data demonstrate that some midface volume loss is related to gravitational descent of the cheek fat compartments and that vertical vector deep-plane rhytidectomy may obviate the need for other volumization procedures such as autologous fat grafting in selected cases.
Level Of Evidence:
4 Therapeutic.
