Radical face lift surgery: A plea for caution

Abstract

Radical face lift procedures, such as midface lifts and deep-plane or composite face lifts, increase the potential for complications and increase morbidity. Although a small percentage of patients may require these radical techniques to achieve optimal results, there is no evidence that radical procedures produce better or longer-lasting improvement in the vast majority of patients than properly performed standard methods. The author discusses the potential complications of radical face lift techniques and describes his preferred approach. ( Aesthetic Surg J 2002;22:86-88.)