What is the difference between a regular facelift and an endoscopic face lift? Which type of face lift is best for sagging cheeks and jowls?
What is an Endoscopic Face Lift?
Doctor Answers 23
An endoscopic facelift is where an endoscope it introduced through the hairline and helps guide the surgeon to help reposition tissue. Generally speaking an endoscopic facelift is another term for an endoscopic browlift or an endoscopic midface lift. An endoscopic lift will have very limited effects on the neck and jowl region. A facelift is intended to lift the tissues of the face and neck in an effort to improve the jawline, neck and descended tissues of the face. An endoscopic lift can be performed independent of a facelift or in conjunction with a facelift.
Web reference: http://www.shahfacialplastics.com/index-11.html
A 'regular facelift' is a term often used for facelift using an incision that starts in the temple region, goes around the ear and ends behind the ear to address sagging tissues for the middle (cheeks) and lower part (jowls and neck) of the face. While this technique is still utilitzed widely by facial plastic surgeons, this type of incision does NOT address the brow and the midface (cheeks) well.
The newer endoscopic facelift on the otherhand uses 4-5 mm incisions in the scalp and temple region and uses an endoscope (small camera with light source attached) and performs all the necessary surgery. The biggest benefit is minimal or no scarring with minimal chance of any permanent numbness. Also, because it focuses on the specific parts of the face, the surgeon is able to better perform the surgery.
It is important to remember, however, that endoscopic facelift addresses only the upper 2/3 of the face and has limited role in the lower face and neck region.
The newer endoscopic facelift on the otherhand uses 4-5 mm incisions in the scalp and temple region and uses an endoscope (small camera with light source attached) and performs all the necessary surgery. The biggest benefit is minimal or no scarring with minimal chance of any permanent numbness. Also, because it focuses on the specific parts of the face, the surgeon is able to better perform the surgery.
It is important to remember, however, that endoscopic facelift addresses only the upper 2/3 of the face and has limited role in the lower face and neck region.
Web reference: http://www.choecenter.com/face/facelift.html
Since the components of facial aging consist of volume loss, descent of facial soft tissues, and skin laxity/ excess, it does not make sense to perform a Facelift without an incision that allows for skin removal. An endoscopic approach is a minimal incision approach which works very well in the brow and mid-facial regions. It plays no role in repositioning of the jowls, addressing platysmal bands or SMAS elevation unless a surgeon wants to spend more time in the operating room than is necessary. A technique is only beneficial if it matches the needs of the procedure. Since the needs of a Facelift are soft tissue repositioning and skin removal, an endoscopic technique is an inappropriate tool to achieve this end.
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An endoscopic facelift is done to minimize the scars from a facelift. It might be reasonable for a patient who has very little extra skin or laxity but if you have sagging skin, jowls and looseness and extra fat in the neck, you will get a much better and more dramatic result from a well performed traditional facelift.
When a procedure is described as being
"endoscopic," it means that the surgeon performs it with the use of a
thin, lighted probe called an endoscope. An endoscope helps the surgeon
visualize the treatment area without making a large incision, minimizing scarring
and recuperation time. However, this method isn't typically used for
traditional facelift surgery. Because of the anatomical limitations of the
face, the endoscopic technique is typically used when a patient wishes to treat
the mid- to upper face. A traditional facelift treats the lower two-thirds of
the face, which is where most people see the most significant signs of physical
aging. Hope this helped!
Web reference: http://www.jrcs.com/plastic-surgery/facelift.cfm
Endoscopes are sometimes used for brow lifts, but not facelifts. For brow lifts, smaller incisions are utilized and internal work is done with help of an endoscope to elevate the brows. Although the use of smaller incisions sounds like a 'better' technique, keep in mind that the techniques need to be individualized to the patients goals and anatomy - not everyone is an appropriate candidate for an endoscopic browlift. I definitely recommend a formal consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon so your goals can be discussed, an exam performed, and individualized recommendations be made to achieve your goals. Good luck!
Web reference: http://www.correaplasticsurgery.com/face/facelift/
An endoscopic facelift is performed through small incisions in the scalp with the assistance of an endoscope. The procedure is very effective for browlifts, but has limited applications for facelift surgery.
The major advantage of this procedure is limited incisions. In most cases, this procedure doesn’t adequately treat excess skin. For this reason, the procedure has limited applications for facial rejuvenation and most patients therefore require a traditional facelift.
An endoscopic facelift uses endoscopes to dissect, elevate and re-position tissues. The advantage is smaller scars. A regular facelift uses more traditional incisions and opens the tissues more extensively. For the upper face the endoscopic method gets fairly nice results especially the forehead area. The lower face , jowls, and neck are treated much better with a traditional facelift. Endoscopic results in these areas are poor and do not last nearly as long as compared to traditional face-lifting. Traditional facelifts can also be individualized for each patient much better that endoscopic work.
I always recommend a full facelift. Best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck.
Web reference: http://www.christopherdavidsonmd.com/faceliftboston.html
A traditional facelift is performed with incisions around the ears and into the back of the hairline. The skin is draped with the excess removed. This corrects sagging of the cheeks and jowls. An Endoscopic lift is done with the incisions in the scalp and endotines are used for the lift. This will lift the cheek area but won't do much for the lower face.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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