What it means for a patient
- This combined lift aims to raise the midface and tighten the lower face and neck without scars in front of the ear.
- Temporary facial nerve weakness and skin dimpling occurred and resolved; the abstract does not say how often.
- Limits: women only, retrospective, results judged by clinical assessment and photos without a stated scale, no complication numbers, and level V evidence.
Why this paper matters
It describes a full-face approach that combines three lift techniques through hidden incisions, aimed at patients with midface descent and little loose skin. The abstract supports feasibility but gives no measured outcomes.
Overview
The authors state that traditional facelifts often fail to correct midface descent and sagging in several directions, especially in younger patients without much loose skin. They describe a multiplanar approach that works beneath the periosteum, beneath the fascia, and beneath the SMAS and platysma, through hidden incisions. This retrospective study included 216 women operated on between June 2021 and January 2024.
Findings
- 216 female patients.
- Incisions: inside the mouth, behind the ear and in the scalp.
- Midface repositioned with dual-plane fixation through the mouth.
- Lower face and neck contoured through sub-SMAS and subplatysmal dissection.
- Mean surgery time 167 minutes; mean follow-up 18.5 months.
- Clinical assessment and standardized photos showed consistent midface elevation, better contour and facial harmony.
- Complications were minimal and temporary, including temporary facial nerve weakness and localized dimpling; all resolved without permanent effects.
- The abstract gives no complication counts or rates.
- Level of evidence: V.
Terms
- Multiplanar: working in more than one tissue layer.
- Subperiosteal: beneath the periosteum, the thin tissue layer that covers bone.
- Subfascial: beneath a fascia, a fibrous tissue layer.
- SMAS: the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a fibrous and muscle layer under the facial fat.
- Subplatysmal: beneath the platysma, the thin muscle sheet of the neck.
- Transoral: through the mouth.
- Retroauricular: behind the ear.
- Ptosis: sagging or drooping of tissue.