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Face and Neck Lift Article 4

Skin Only Facelifts

The skin only facelift can be initiated within the temple hair above the insertion of the helix or, alternatively, begins along the anterior temple hairline and encircles the sideburn to reachthe helical insertion. The incision continues in a gently undulating fashion, hugging the preauricular helical root, tragus, and around the lobe to continue on the postauricular skin. At that point, it may descend posteriorly along the hairline or may extend to within the hairline, depending on the degree of neck laxity and anticipated skin resection. Although Dr. Hughes performs SMAS plication with skin resection for longer lasting results than skin-only facelifts, he performs shorter scar facelifts, which do not extend into the temple or the hairline.

Whereas the skin flap lift exerts tension on the paralabial cheek and the lower anterior neck, only minimal tightening is transmitted to the submental region, and correction of the anterior jaw and submental areas is often suboptimal. Consequently, some method of direct approach to the submental area with medial platysma plication is added. A submental incision is used for direct fat removal and tensioning of the platysma with midline plication sutures. The medial plication of the submental platysma tends to draw the laterally attached skin along the inferior mandibular border medially.

Most commonly, the vector line is approximately parallel to the inferior border of the mandible. Too much upward vector of lift on the cheek skin flap separates the skin edges of the superior part of the incision, making closure difficult. An additional problem is excessive elevation of the temporal hair pattern. Too much lateral rotation of the postauricular skin flap causes problems of closure of the incision at the postauricular sulcus, which can cause excessive tension on the thin skin flap with poor healing.

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Face and Neck Lift at Hughes Plastic Surgery

Click on the Additional Face and Neck Lift Article Links Below to Learn More about Facelifts:

Article 1: Lip and Marionette Line Improvement in Facelifts

Article 2: Laser Resurfacing and Treatment of Nasolabial Folds in Facelifts

Article 3: Jowl and Neck improvement in Facelifts

Article 4: Skin Only Facelifts

Article 5: Deep Plane Facelifts and Extended SMAS Flap Facelifts

Article 6: SMASectomy, SMAS imbrication, and MACS Facelifts

Article 7: Complications of Facelifts: Hematomas

Article 8: Complications of Facelifts: Infection, Skin Loss, and Nerve Injury

Article 9: Optimal Scar Placement in Facelifts

Article 10: Secondary Facelifts

Or View Before and After Photo Galleries of Dr. Hughes’s Face and Neck Lifts Below:

link to face and neck lift before and after photo galleries

link to male face and neck lift photo galleries

link to facial fat grafting before and after photo galleries