RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Management of facial rejuvenation by the thread lift procedure has evolved over the past few years. The role of deep plane thread lift for buccal fat pad reposition was advocated. However, there are concerns about the risks and the feasibility of the deep plane thread lift. This study was designed to determine whether the deep plane thread lift could achieve effective aesthetic results and to investigate the possible risks of critical tissue injury through cadaveric studies. METHODS: Twelve fresh frozen cephalic specimens of 8 male and 4 female Asian body donors (mean age, 63.3 ± 8.0 years) were investigated. The deep plane thread lifts for reposition of the buccal fat pads were performed for all the left hemifaces. Cadaveric dissections were performed to investigate the moving distance of the buccal fat pad and to examine the surrounding tissue of the passage of the deep plane thread lift. RESULTS: The average moving distance of the buccal fat pads after the deep plane thread lift was 3.73 cm. The difference in moving distance of buccal fat pads between bilateral sides was statistically significant (P < 0.001). No injuries of the critical vessels or nerves were found after cadaveric dissection. The passage of the deep plane thread lift was evaluated. CONCLUSION: The deep plane thread lift for reposition of the buccal fat pad is a safe, effective, and practical method.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Management of facial rejuvenation has evolved over past decades. Facelift with barbed suture is a minimally invasive surgical technique for facial rejuvenation. This study examined the efficacy and associated complications of a new thread-looping procedure called minimal access multiple plane suspension. METHODS: A total of 103 thread lifts were performed between 2014 and 2017. Patient satisfaction and adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: In the majority of patients (88/103, 85.4%), the results obtained were considered satisfactory 3 months after the procedure. The incidence of complications was low. Only 5.8% of the patients had slight postoperation asymmetry that was easily corrected. Minor complications experienced by patients included palpable suture knots (12.6%), persistent facial swelling (7.88%), and facial dimpling (2.9%). The causes of procedure-related complications were reviewed and discussed. CONCLUSION: Reinforced by select anchoring points, "minimal access multiple plane suspension" suspends ptotic anatomic tissues, serving as an effective facial rejuvenation procedure with minimal downtime and satisfactory cosmetic results.