title: Reconstruction of facial soft tissue: comparison between conventional procedures and the facelift technique.
abstract: We compared the result of replacement using a modified facelift technique with those of other commonly used surgical techniques for the treatment of defects of the soft tissue of the infraorbital and cheek region. We made a retrospective observational study of 86 patients who had defects of the facial soft tissue after excision of malignant tumours. Procedures used for reconstructions included non-vascularised skin grafts, local flaps, facelift technique, and microvascular free flaps, and we evaluated morbidity; duration of hospital stay; the need for, and duration of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU); and functional and aesthetic outcomes. We studied 46 men and 40 women (mean (range) age 71 (8-99) years). We found no significant difference between the methods apart from shorter duration of hospital stay and lower incidence of ectropion in the facelift group. The facelift technique also gave the best aesthetic outcome. However, in defects larger than 60cm2, microvascular free tissue transfer was the only choice. The facelift technique is reliable and safe, and gives excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes, but its use is limited to defects smaller than 60cm2.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital RWTH-Aachen, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen Germany. Electronic address: abartella@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bartella
authors.affiliation: University Hospital RWTH-Aachen, Department of Orthodontics, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghassemi
authors.affiliation: University Hospital RWTH-Aachen, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hölzle
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Hospital of the University of Hanover, Klinikum Lippe, Röntgenstr. 18, 32756 Detmold Germany; Medical Faculty University RWTH, Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghassemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015361:Rhytidoplasty; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Facelift technique; conventional procedures; facial defects; facial soft tissue reconstruction