Fixation Techniques Across Endoscopic Brow Lifts: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Facial Rejuvenation

Background:

• Endoscopic brow lift is a popular minimally invasive procedure for brow ptosis.
• Various fixation techniques exist, including bone tunnels, Endotine, sutures, and screws.
• Literature lacks comprehensive comparisons of patient satisfaction and outcomes across these fixation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing literature on endoscopic brow lifts.
• To evaluate reported surgical outcomes and methods of patient satisfaction reporting for different fixation techniques.
• To provide clinicians with insights into technique-specific impacts on patient experience and results.

Main Methods:

• Computerized literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases (inception to June 2024).
• Inclusion of 27 studies examining single fixation techniques with reported surgical outcomes.
• Categorization of complications into aesthetic, neurological, wound-related, and other.

Main Results:

• 2519 patients across 11 fixation methods were analyzed; bone tunnel (649) and suture (906) were most common.
• Bone tunnel fixation demonstrated the lowest complication rates across all categories.
• Screw fixation exhibited the highest complication rates; neurological complications were most frequent overall (11.69%).

Conclusions:

• Despite various fixation methods for endoscopic brow lifts, heterogeneity in reporting outcomes and patient satisfaction hinders clear distinctions.
• Bone tunnel fixation appears to offer a favorable safety profile.
• Improved, consistent reporting of complications is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes and advancing clinical practice.