The preauricular portion of the rhytidectomy incision.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the best placement of the preauricular portion of the rhytidectomy incision in the female patient from the aesthetic point of view.


METHODS
Blind, randomized review of close-up photographs of the ear area in 36 patients after rhytidectomy.


METHODS
Office surgical suite, accredited by Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care.


METHODS
Two facial plastic surgeons and two plastic surgeons, all skilled rhytidectomy surgeons.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Participants received close-up photographs of the ear area of 36 patients at least 6 months after rhytidectomy. Eighteen patients had posterior tragal edge incisions and 18 patients had pretragal incisions. Cases were randomized. Participants were asked to rate the preauricular portion of the rhytidectomy incisions overall as to aesthetic results. The categories were excellent, good, average, acceptable, and poor.


RESULTS
Results of surveys were collated. Three categories of results were determined: best, acceptable, and poorest. Posterior tragal edge incisions scored higher than pretragal incisions. Those incisions that scored in the best category tended to have a normal contour of the tragus and normal pretragal sulcus. Incisions that scored in the poorest category tended to have a flat posttragal edge with obliteration of the pretragal sulcus.


CONCLUSIONS
The incision at the posterior edge of the tragus is preferred over the pretragal incision for female rhytidectomy patients except those with a large, prominent or angulated tragus.
Becker
F F
FF
Facial Plastic Surgery Center, Vero Beach, Fla.
D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery; D004954:Esthetics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011897:Random Allocation; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*