The endoscopic browlift for forehead rejuvenation

Periosteal fixation during subperiosteal brow lift surgery

OBJECTIVE

To report the efficacy of periosteal fixation combined with Y-to-V scalp incisions during small-incision subperiosteal forehead and brow lift.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This is a retrospective case series of 19 patients over 12 months; 16 patients underwent bilateral and 3 unilateral surgery. Unilateral surgery was performed in patients with facial nerve palsy and was augmented with cable suspension. Superior arcus marginalis release and visualization of the supraorbital nerve was achieved using an endoscope or a transblepharoplasty approach.

RESULTS

All patients achieved a desirable brow lift and contour, with a mean lift of 2.4 +/- 1.0 mm. The mean follow-up was 11 months. During follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence of brow ptosis. All patients had an improvement of the glabellar furrows. Minor complications included transient diplopia (n=1), reduced medial upper eyelid sensation (n=1), brief postoperative bleeding from one of the small-incision sites (n=1), and persistent sensory loss involving the central scalp incisions (n=2). No long-term alopecia was noted in any case.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that with periosteal fixation combined with Y-to-V scalp incisions, bone fixation is not necessary to achieve a desirable height during small-incision subperiosteal forehead and brow lift.

Ophthalmic Management of Facial Nerve Palsy: A Review

Facial nerve palsy affects individuals of all ages, races, and sexes. Psychological and functional implications of the paralysis present a devastating management problem to those afflicted, as well as the carriers. Since Sir Charles Bell's original description of facial palsy in 1821, our understanding and treatment options have expanded. It is essential that a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing ophthalmologists; Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeons; plastic surgeons; and psychologists work closely to optimize patient management in a staged approach. Although the etiology remains unknown, strong histological, cerebral spinal fluid, and radiological evidence suggests a possible association with herpes simplex virus in idiopathic facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy). The use of steroids has been suggested as a means of limiting facial nerve damage in the acute phase. Unfortunately, no single randomized control trial has achieved an unquestionable benefit with the use of oral steroid therapy and thus remains controversial. In the acute phase, ophthalmologists play a pivotal role in preventing irreversible blindness from corneal exposure. This may be successfully achieved by using intensive lubrication, medical therapy (botulinum toxin), or surgery (upper lid weighting or tarsorraphy). Once the cornea is adequately protected and recovery deemed unlikely, longer term planning for eyelid and facial reanimation may take place in an individualized manner. Onset is sudden and management potentially lengthy. Physician empathy, knowledge, and experience are essential in averting long-term lifestyle and psychological discomfort for patients.

Small incision subperiosteal and trans-blepharoplasty forehead and browlift

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-endoscopic, small-incision subperiosteal forehead and browlift in patients undergoing associated upper eyelid blepharoplasty. This is a retrospective, non-comparative case series of 14 consecutive patients in 12 months. Eleven patients underwent bilateral and three unilateral surgery. Unilateral surgery was performed in patients with facial palsy and was augmented with cable suspension. The technique involves five small scalp incisions to create a single subperiosteal and deep temporal cavity. Superior arcus marginalis release and direct visualisation of the supraorbital nerve was achieved via a trans-blepharoplasty approach. All patients achieved a desirable browlift and contour. Follow up ranged from 2 to 40 weeks. Minor complications included transient diplopia (1), reduced upper eyelid sensation (1), and brief postoperative bleeding from one of the small incision sites (1). Small incision and trans-blepharoplasty forehead and browlift is a safe and effective method to achieve a cosmetically desirable browlift in patients that require associated upper eyelid blepharoplasty, using standard oculoplastic equipment without the need for an endoscope.

Video-Assisted Endoscopic Transtemporal Multilayer Upper Midface Lift (MUM-Lift)

Minimally invasive surgery has been used successfully recently to improve brow ptosis and forehead rhytids. Because the face tends to age more vertically, rather than obliquely, it makes sense to perform the correction in a more vertical direction. Therefore, the authors introduce a video-assisted endoscopic transtemporal approach to allow a multiplanar (subperiosteal, sub-SMAS, and subcutaneous) vertical upper midface elevation (MUM-Lift) avoiding extensive lateral temporal and preauricular incisions. Between 1996 and 2003, 53 patients (8 males, 45 females; age, 47 +/- 6 years) underwent MUM-Lift. This includes simultaneous forehead lift, blepharoplasties and video-assisted transtemporal sub-SMAS and subcutaneous upper midface tissue release, vertico-lateral repositioning, and fixation. Using the various planes of release in the midface produces less tension on each layer and provides a natural and improved facial rejuvenation of the forehead, as well as of the upper midface. The results confirmed that limited incision forehead-plasty techniques in combination with a transtemporal sub-SMAS and subcutaneous upper midface lift (MUM-Lift) reduces unnecessary vascular compromise on any particular layer and can be safely and predictably performed over the zygomatic muscle. This newly introduced procedure is an exciting feature that has evolved into a useful modality. It provides natural and improved facial rejuvenation.

The direct brow lift: efficacy, complications, and patient satisfaction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The direct brow lift operation can be used to treat brow ptosis arising from either involutional changes or facial nerve palsy. The authors reviewed their experience with this operation to establish its efficacy and complication rate in the light of concerns over poor scar cosmesis and forehead paraesthesiae in the postoperative period.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients undergoing direct brow lifting from 1989 to 2002 was conducted, and information gained on patient satisfaction by questionnaire.

RESULTS

The direct brow lift operation was found to give a predictable outcome, with high levels of patient satisfaction. With careful wound closure, postoperative scars are rarely cosmetically unacceptable to the patient. Paraesthesiae are a common but well tolerated sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

The direct brow lift was found to be a reliable method for treating brow ptosis arising through involutional change or facial nerve palsy in both men and women. The postoperative scars may be more evident in younger patients so the authors reserve this technique for "rehabilitative" rather than cosmetic brow lifts in patients of middle age and beyond.