Are Staples Apropriate for Mid- Face Lift? (photo)

Staples sound a bit coarse and even a bit crude, but for incisions in the hairline, they are optimal.  They provide excellent eversion and approximation without strangulating tissue and compromising the blood supply - meaning well-healed incisions without hair loss.  

You would be amazed how many plastic surgeons use staples in their facelifts.  Although there is nothing wring with using staples, I think patients expect us to show more care and precision in our work.  I find the use so staples to be crude and not very, well plastic surgeon-ly.  Hand suturing is more precise and treats the tissue more gently.

     Staples are used by many surgeons for incisions that remain in the hairline.  Most surgeons will suture anything on the face and staple anything in the hair.

Skin Clips or staples are not only appropriate but preferred by many surgeons including myself within the hair portion of your scalp as your photos demonstrated. They have the following advantages - no hair shaving is required to prevent hair being trapped within sutures and the incision, easy removal, less damaging in many cases to the skin. 

Your surgeon made a good choice.

I don't like staples in elective aesthetic surgery cases.  They can leave blemishes that I dislike, even in the hairline.  Stapling can save time but not that much.  The patients pay a lot of money and precise suturing is an important detail for me.

I prefer not use staples during facelift surgery but staples in the hair bearing scalp is acceptable and used by some surgeons.  

Dr. ES

It is not unusual to use staples for incision back in the hairline. I agree with my colleagues that incisions that sit just at or in front of the hairline are better closed with delicate sutures. However, your incision appears to be just behind the hairline and staples will likely result in a very nice scar which shouldn't be perceptible once healed. In brief, I don't think anything was done incorrectly. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

the use of staples for: midface lift, lite lift, lifestyle lift, mini lift


the is the surgeons choice and experience

clips within the hair are typical 

easier to clean,  less damaging to hair follicles

Staples reapproximate wound edges without strangulating them (as can happen sometimes if sutures are tied too tight) and if they are removed within 5 days heal very nicely.  In our practice we often use staples for many different incisions and they heal without the hallmark staple scars because we remove them early.

Staples are generally used for facelift and browlift incisions within the hairline.  This is because they are easier to remove and have a lower chance of causing any effect on hair growth.  This is an appropriate use.