Subperiosteal approach as an improved concept for correction of the aging face

A harmonious facial appearance is determined by a balanced relationship among all tissues of the face. With advancing age, balance is lost among the bone, muscle, fat, and skin as progressive changes occur in their volume, shape, position, and consistency. Study of clinical cases and fresh cadaver dissections has led to better understanding of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and its relationship with the facial muscles and their bony insertions. From these anatomic studies we have developed an improved concept of rhytidectomy with the subperiosteal detachment of all soft tissues from the orbit, upper maxilla, malar bone, and nose. Following this detachment, the soft tissues of the cheek, forehead, jowls, nasolabial folds, lateral canthus, and eyebrows can be lifted to reestablish their youthful relationship with the underlying skeleton. Our 4-year experience includes 105 patients. Sixty percent of these patients were admitted to the hospital and had their procedure under general anesthesia; forty percent, however, had their procedure in an outpatient setting requiring only local anesthesia (lidocaine hydrochloride 1% plus epinephrine) and intravenous sedation (midazolam, ketamine). Complications have been minimal except for temporary paralysis of the frontal nerve in seven patients; guidelines for prevention have subsequently been developed. The subperiosteal rhytidectomy is excellent and appears more natural for rejuvenation of the upper and central face, eyebrows, periorbita, external canthus, cheeks, and nasolabial fold.