A Systematic Review of Rhytidectomy Complications and Prevention Methods: Evaluating the Trends

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Surgery
• Surgical Complications

Background:

• Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is a common aesthetic procedure.
• Key goals include cosmetic outcome, long-term results, and minimizing complications.
• Common complications include hematomas, seromas, neurapraxia, and unfavorable scars.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate facelift complications and interventions reported since 2000.
• To examine changes and trends in facelift complication rates and management strategies.
• To provide insights into current best practices for minimizing adverse outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of PubMed literature from 2000 to August 2024.
• Keywords: "facelift," "face lift," "complication," "management," "perioperative," "prevention."
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies reporting complication rates and intervention efficacy.

Main Results:

• Hematoma was the most frequent complication (27%), followed by scarring (24%) and neurapraxia (22%).
• Neurapraxia and scarring rates doubled from 2013-2024 compared to 2000-2012.
• Seroma rates halved, while hematoma rates remained similar; fibrin sealants were the most studied intervention.

Conclusions:

• Facelift complication rates are generally low.
• While hematoma rates are stable, unfavorable scarring and neurapraxia have increased.
• Decreased seroma rates may be linked to interventions like tissue sealants and pharmacologic agents.