Endoscopic Surgical Correction of Glabellar Creases

Abstract

A number of alternatives exist for the temporary correction of glabellar creases and frown lines. The traditional "open" operative procedure has often involved a large incision to gain access to the depressor muscles that are responsible for the deformity. While useful for patients with multiple or more significant deformities, patients with isolated glabellar creases and frown lines have been reluctant to consider an extensive surgical procedure, with its attendant morbidity, for an isolated problem. The purpose of this report is to describe a new technique of endoscopic corrugator muscle resection, without the need for the traditional lengthy scalp incision. Traditional criteria for patient selection was employed. A series of 10 consecutive patients with vertical mid-forehead glabellar-eyebrow frown lines were treated by endoscopic corrugator muscle resection and evaluated. The procedure was efficacious in reducing the frown-muscle complex prominence and rhytids in the mid-forehead area. Circumstances of heavy folds, hyperactive muscle function, or premature furrows in patients with good skin tone appear to be most suitable for this technique. With the introduction of a more acceptable, less problematic surgical solution, deformities in the forehead-eyebrow area can be readily addressed surgically. The procedure is a cost-effective alternative to temporary techniques improving aesthetic problems in the forehead-eyebrow area.