Endoscopic Facelift

A facelift is a surgical procedure designed to improve the most visible signs of aging on your face and neck. The procedure removes skin on the face and neck that is loose and sagging and tightens the underlying muscles and support structures. Although the traditional facelift is usually the best choice for most patients, an endoscopic facelift can be beneficial for patients who do not have a significant amount of excess skin. Almost any problem that can be treated with a traditional facelift can also be addressed through an endoscopic facelift. With this type of facelift, the doctor can focus on problems in a specific area of the face, making smaller, more concentrated adjustments.

Endoscopic facelifts make use of the latest technology and require much smaller incisions (often less than one inch in length) than a traditional facelift. The doctor inserts an endoscope - a probe that contains a small camera - through the small incisions and is able to monitor the progress of the procedure using the internally placed camera. Patients who undergo endoscopic facelifts typically require less recovery time, experience fewer side effects, and have lower risk of complications.

There are two kinds of endoscopic facelifts:

• The superficial facelift in which your skin is elevated at the hairline.
• The deep lift in which the original attachment of your skin is freed and then your skin is reattached to the facial bones in a tighter and smoother fashion.

Are You A Good Candidate for a Facelift?

The best candidate for an endoscopic facelift is someone whose face and neck have begun to sag, but who does not have large amounts of sagging skin. It is also helpful if the skin still has some elasticity and the bone structure is strong and well defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be successfully performed on people well into their seventies and eighties. If you are generally healthy, have a realistic view about the results that can be achieved with an endoscopic facelift, and have any of the following conditions, you may be a good candidate for the procedure:

• Loss of skin elasticity and/or muscle tone on your face and/or neck
• Wrinkles or furrows on your face and/or neck
• Deep creases forming between the bottom of your nose and the corner of your mouth
• A diminished jaw line
• A sagging or heavy chin

 

How The Procedure Is Performed

The doctor makes three or more small incisions above your hairline and behind each ear. The incisions are usually made well behind the hairline so that they are not visible. The doctor inserts a small instrument called an endoscope through the incisions. The endoscope has a camera on it that is connected to a television monitor, allowing the doctor to precisely work with the skin, support structures, and muscle.

Once the procedure is complete, the doctor uses stitches to secure the layers of tissue and to close the incisions. Surgical clips may be used to secure the scalp. Your head is wrapped with gauze dressings to help reduce the swelling.