Facelift Approach for Resecting Benign Upper Neck Masses

This study evaluated the feasibility of non-magnified resection of various benign lesions of the upper neck using the facelift incision without endoscopic equipment to establish indications for the procedure.

This retrospective analysis examined 86 patients who underwent surgery for upper neck masses using the facelift incision or conventional transcervical incision at our institute between January 2012 and December 2015.

We performed 41 operations using facelift incisions (facelift group) and 45 using conventional horizontal incisions (conventional group). All 86 operations were successful. In the facelift group, no patient needed conversion to conventional open resection and no patient required the use of an endoscopic device due to a limited surgical view for safe resection. There were no major surgical complications in either group. Transient sensory changes in the auricle occurred in 26% of the patients in the facelift group, but all patients recovered within 2 months. In all patients in the facelift group, the scars were invisible as they were covered by the auricle and hair, while the surgical scars were noticeable in 91% (41/45) of the patients in the conventional group when they were wearing standard shirts (p < 0.001) at 3-4 weeks after surgery.

The facelift approach provides a short direct route to upper neck masses, and it enables an adequate workspace not only for endoscopic or robotic surgery, but also for open surgery with the naked eye. The surgical indications for the facelift incision include the removal of most benign tumors occurring in the upper neck at levels II and III.