Background: Most facelift techniques greatly improve the lower face; however, techniques for lifting the midface are limited and difficult. Original deep plane face lift is a way to lift the SMAS and skin as a compound unit. Though it minimizes SMAS tear during dissection, damage to the vascular system and incidence of skin necrosis and can be easily used in secondary cases, it does not adequately improve nasolabial fold. We perform a modified and enhanced deep plane facelift to improve the midface. Herein, we explain the effects and procedures of the method.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients (n=632) on whom deep-plane facelift (DPF group, n=299) and modified deep-plane facelift (M-DPF group, n=333) was performed by a single surgeon from January 2014 to January 2017 and February 2017 to December 2020, respectively, at a local clinic. The degree of improvement in wrinkles in the patients' nasolabial fold was assessed using a 5-grade wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS).
Results: Preoperative WSRS was 2.95 ± 0.89 in the DPF group and 2.89 ± 0.92 in the M-DPF group. There was no significant difference in preoperative WSRS between the two groups (p=0.058). Postoperative WSRS was 1.81 ± 0.68 in the DPF group, which was significantly greater than the 1.65 ± 0.66 found in the M-DPF group.
Conclusions: This method developed by us that combines deep-plane facelift with deep fat compartment mobilization and zygomaticus major muscle plication is safe and directly improves the nasolabial fold and promotes a smiling expression for rejuvenation effects.
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