Treatment of the Aging Face Using the “Round-lifting” Technique

Abstract

Background: Characteristics of the aging face include not only senescence and flaccidity of the skin, but also sagging of deeper tissues, especially in the fascial and fatty layers. Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the different surgical approaches to the aging face, specifically the techniques available for correction of the prominent nasolabial fold, which is a significant sign of facial aging. Methods: Through a total of 7446 cases in more than 40 years of experience in the surgical correction of the aging face, the senior author has emphasized the importance of the repositioning of the skin and the facial soft tissues. After appropriate treatment of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and the malar fat pad has been completed, adequate placement of the skin flaps is done by rotation, as described in the round-lifting technique, rather than by direct traction. The anatomic basis of this correction is discussed. Results: Traction of the SMAS was found to soften the appearance of the nasolabial fold to varying degrees, but other complementary procedures such as collagen injection or fat grafting often were necessary to achieve a more satisfactory correction. Durability of nasolabial fold correction with simple SMAS traction varied with each individual and his or her unique aging process. Simple traction of the SMAS did not include treatment of the fascial fatty layer. The senior author has included the treatment of the fascial fatty layer in his standard rhytidectomy over the last 2 years, with improved aesthetic results. Again, long-term correction by this technique is related to the aging process, and the final result was deemed superior to treatment of the SMAS alone. Direct excision of the nasolabial fold was performed in patients ranging from 35 to 60 years of age who had extremely prominent folds. In these very select cases, the results were considered satisfactory to both the surgeon and patient, with correction of the fold and acceptable scars. Conclusions: There is as yet no ideal solution for the surgical correction of the naso-labial fold component of the aging face. However, all of the techniques described are considered safe and have precise indications. It should be stressed to the patient that the nasolabial fold is part of the anatomy of the face and that the goal of treatment is to soften the appearance of the fold, not to eliminate it completely.