Cosmetic: Minimal Access Cranial Suspension Lift: A Modified S-Lift
Cosmetic: Minimal Access Cranial Suspension Lift: A Modified S-Lift
Cosmetic: Minimal Access Cranial Suspension Lift: A Modified S-Lift
There is a strong trend at hand toward less dramatic pose a comprehensive facial rejuvenation treat-
facial rejuvenation surgery. Most of the authors’ patients ment. Most European patients want to look
want a cosmetic improvement but not at the cost of pro-
longed disfigurement or a high risk of complications. In younger without evidence of their having had a
1999, a very simple but effective rhytidectomy technique, face lift. Some patients refuse to have the plas-
termed an S-lift, was described in the literature and was tic surgeon operate on their eyebrows or eye-
adopted by the authors. Its basic principle is the suspen- lids. During consultation for facial rejuvena-
sion of sagging facial features by a strong, permanent tion, most patients demonstrate a maneuver
purse-string suture. The procedure is performed with the
patient under local anesthesia. Significant modifications that they have repeatedly performed in front of
were applied to the incision, to the purse-string suture the mirror: they push the skin of the mandib-
anchoring site, and to the direction and shape of the skin ular angle and the zygomatic region cranially
excision. The authors named the modified procedure the (Fig. 1). To fulfill the wish of these patients,
minimal access cranial suspension lift to specifically de- the S-lift, an operation that was originally pro-
scribe the concept of the technique. Through an inverted
L-shaped preauricular incision with extension below the posed by Saylan,1 has been redesigned. The
sideburn, a limited skin undermining is performed. Two term S-lift is confusing and refers only to the
strong, permanent purse-string sutures are woven into the S-shaped skin pre-excision, which belongs to
superficial musculoaponeurotic system tissues in a vertical the originally described technique and which
U and an oblique O shape, initiating from a strong an- was abandoned by us because it was not surgi-
chorage in the deep temporal fascia at the level of the
helical crus. Tying these sutures produces a very powerful cally sound. Therefore, we renamed the mod-
vertical correction of descended facial features that acts ified procedure the minimal access cranial sus-
mainly on the jowls and the upper neck. The procedure pension lift (MACS lift) to specifically describe
can be extended by continuing the dissection over the the concept of the technique.
malar fat pad, placing a third vertical purse-string suture
with strong action on the nasolabial groove, and vertically MATERIALS AND METHODS
repositioning the midfacial volumes. During 20 months,
pleasing results and a very low complication rate were The MACS lift is performed as an outpatient
obtained in 88 consecutive patients with a mean age of procedure with the patient under local anes-
551⁄2 years. In this article, the authors provide a detailed thesia and minimal sedation. A total of 2.5 mg
description of the anesthetic and surgical technique, a of midazolam is given intramuscularly before
demonstration of the results in different patient age cat-
egories, and a discussion comparing the minimal access preparation and draping. This provides a com-
cranial suspension lift with other types of facial rejuvena- fortable relaxation, without diminished con-
tion procedures. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 109: 2074, 2002.) sciousness. Tumescent infiltration with local
anesthesia is provided with a 22-gauge spinal
needle by using a diluted solution of 0.3%
Most patients consulting for facial rejuvena- lidocaine, 1:650,000 adrenalin, and 2 mEq of
tion have their own opinion about the desired sodium bicarbonate2 (Table I). The same solu-
result and the extent of the operation. This tion is used for any ancillary procedure, such as
may be strongly different from the vision of the liposuction of the submental region, upper or
plastic surgeon, who may be inclined to pro- lower blepharoplasty, lipofilling, or laser resur-
From the Coupure Centre for Plastic Surgery, Gent, the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Gent, and the
Coupure Centrum voor Plastische Chirurgie. Received for publication May 14, 2001; revised August 6, 2001.
2074
Vol. 109, No. 6 / MINIMAL ACCESS CRANIAL SUSPENSION LIFT 2075
FIG. 1. (Left) Typical maneuver of patients between 40 and 50 years old in response to being
asked what they expect from a lifting procedure: They push the region of the mandibular angle
cranially to correct the sagging in the lower third of the face. (Right) Typical maneuver of patients
older than 50 years in reply to the same question: They push the region of the mandibular angle
and the zygoma cranially to correct the sagging of the lower and middle third of the face.
strong lateral vector of displacing soft tissues, procedure, the sagging soft tissues are brought
the MACS lift is a pure vertical-vector face lift. back to their original position with a simple
In recent years, the tendency has been to- suturing technique placed directly in the ptotic
ward less invasive techniques in facial rejuvena- tissue.
tion surgery. Baker17 showed an evolution in With Baker,17 we share the disappointment
his face-lift techniques from extended classic about the morbidity and the poor long-term
dissections toward minimal incision techniques results of anterior corset platysmaplasty.19 –21 By
and from a lateral pull to more cranially di- pulling strongly on the lateral part of the
rected displacement of the soft tissues. Also, platysma at the mandibular angle in a cranial
Finger18 proposed minimal skin and SMAS dis- direction, platysmal bands will disappear in
sections, in combination with subperiosteal most cases. We limited our indications for an-
midface lifts, and demonstrated stable and nat- terior platysmaplasty to the few cases in which
ural results with minimal postoperative the platysmal bands did not disappear with
morbidity. upward traction on the platysma in the region
The ultimate determinant of a successful of the mandibular angle. The combination of
rhytidectomy is a happy patient.17 Listening to moderate-to-aggressive fine-needle liposuction
our patients’ desires is essential to be able to of the submental region with a strong cranial
fulfill them. Therefore, we believe the ideal suspension of the platysma and SMAS, as done
facial rejuvenation procedure is an interven- in the MACS procedure, offers a simple and
tion with a visible but natural change, with valuable alternative.
minimal risks, minimal morbidity, and mini- In a classic face lift, the retroauricular and
mal social discomfort. Offering the MACS lift occipital incision is used to create the posterior
as a safe outpatient office procedure is wel- part of the skin flap. The traction on this flap
comed with great enthusiasm because of the in the oblique upward direction basically only
strong resistance to hospital admission of most redrapes skin and has little or no rejuvenating
cosmetic surgery candidates and their reluc- effect. Most of the skin resection in a classic
tance to pay hospital expenses. face-lift design is done in the occipital region,
Subperiosteal procedures can produce dra- producing the classic problems of hairline dis-
matic changes with beautiful long-term re- placement or noticeable pretrichial scars, a
sults,9,14,15 but patients sometimes have swelling problem that was never encountered in our
that remains for 6 months. Also, by raising the patient group.
periosteum, tissue is moved to a position where The horizontal limb of the MACS-lift inci-
it has never been. Indeed, the periosteum is sion enables us to excise a large amount of
the only anatomic structure that stays fixed to facial skin in a vertical direction without eleva-
the bone over an entire life. With the MACS tion of the hairline.22–24 The extension of this
Vol. 109, No. 6 / MINIMAL ACCESS CRANIAL SUSPENSION LIFT 2079
FIG. 4. (Above, left and right) Three-quarter and profile views of a 45-year-old woman with
moderate jowls and moderate central anterior neck skin laxity. No visible platysmal bands. (Below,
left and right) One-year postoperative results, with correction of the jowls and neck laxity after
a simple minimal access cranial suspension procedure and minimal liposuction of the submental
area.
incision in a pretrichial cephalic direction of this incision, very inconspicuous scars can be
makes action on the midface possible in the obtained.
extended MACS lift. After meticulous closure The sagging of the midface can be treated
2080 PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, May 2002
FIG. 5. (Above, left and right) Three-quarter and profile views of a 56-year-old woman with
marked jowls, marionette grooves, and a heavy, fatty neck with clearly visible platysmal bands.
(Below, left and right) Results 14 months after a simple minimal access cranial suspension lift with
extended liposuction of the anterior neck and upper blepharoplasty. Note the correction of the
jowls, marionette grooves, cervicomental angle, and the nice volumetric augmentation of the
zygomatic region.
through different approaches. A lateral ap- Tessier,14 was recently modified by Little.15
proach was suggested by Hamra,16,25 Stuzin et Byrd and Andochick29 used the endoscope
al.,26 Owsley and Fiala,4 and Connell and through the temporal approach, and Yarem-
Semlacher.27 Hester et al.28 described a more chuk30 recently proposed a combination of dif-
vertical approach through a lower eyelid inci- ferent approaches. Disappointed by the high
sion. A subperiosteal approach, introduced by complication rate of lower eyelid approaches28
Vol. 109, No. 6 / MINIMAL ACCESS CRANIAL SUSPENSION LIFT 2081
FIG. 6. (Above, left and right) Frontal and profile views of a 52-year-old woman with marked
jowls and marionette grooves, moderate laxity of the anterior neck, and general sagging of the
midface. (Below, left and right) Results 8 months after an extended minimal access cranial
suspension lift and discrete upper and transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty. Note adequate
correction of the jowls, marionette grooves, and anterior neck skin laxity. Also note the volu-
metric lift of the whole midface. No skin resection was performed on the lower eyelids.
and the long recovery period of subperiosteal part of the deep temporal fascia and the malar
midface14,15,29 elevation, we decided to use the fat pad to lift the whole midface with an
lateral approach. An extra U-shaped purse- oblique to an almost vertical vector.
string suture is placed between the anterior The debate between limited and extended
2082 PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, May 2002
FIG. 7. (Above, left and right) Three-quarter and profile views of a 60-year-old man with marked
jowls, marionette grooves, laxity of the anterior neck skin with marked platysmal bands, and
general sagging of the midface. (Below, left and right) Results 11 months after extended minimal
access cranial suspension lift and discrete upper blepharoplasty. Note adequate correction of the
jowls, marionette grooves, and anterior neck skin laxity without platysmaplasty. There is a nice
volumetric rejuvenation of the midface area. No lower eyelid surgery was performed.
undermining of the facial skin is ongoing. ful anatomic studies about the retaining liga-
Some authors are convinced that extensive un- ments of the face have been published, to-
dermining and radical skin resection leads to gether with the statement that these ligaments
better and more long-lasting results.31 Beauti- are to be divided to be able to resect more
Vol. 109, No. 6 / MINIMAL ACCESS CRANIAL SUSPENSION LIFT 2083
FIG. 8. (Above, left and right) Frontal and three-quarter views of a 61-year-old woman with very
marked jowls, marionette grooves, laxity of the anterior neck skin with marked platysmal bands,
general laxity of the facial skin, and excessive periorbital and lower eyelid rhytides. (Below, left
and right) Early postoperative results (4 months) after extended minimal access cranial suspen-
sion lift, upper blepharoplasty, and erbium laser resurfacing of the perioral and lower eyelid area.
Note the absence of erythema shortly after erbium resurfacing.
skin.32–34 But why should we transect the only Because the original S-lift procedure as de-
supporting structures of the skin? scribed by Saylan1 has some illogical steps
Concerning the stability of the results, we against elementary plastic surgery principles, a
realize that 18 months of follow-up is short, but lot of skepticism was raised about this interven-
over that period the results have been as good tion. Some surgeons compare this procedure
and as stable as in classic SMAS-lift techniques. with a technique described in 1919 by Passot,35
2084 PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, May 2002
FIG. 9. Longest follow-up case (18 months). (Above, left and right) Preoperative frontal and
profile views. (Below, left and right) Postoperative frontal and profile view. There is a stable result
in the correction of the jowls and cervicomental angle after a simple minimal access cranial
suspension lift procedure, upper blepharoplasty, and lower orbicularis suspension
blepharoplasty.
merely consisting of an S-shaped excision of skin was abandoned. First, one can never tell
preauricular skin without any undermining, how much skin must be removed at the end of
but the purse-string sutures do much more the operation; second, after pre-excision of
than that. skin, the surgeon is forced to manipulate and
The original Saylan S-lift design was modi- pull during the surgery on skin that will be
fied as follows. The S-shaped pre-excision of sutured at the end. Purse-string sutures are
Vol. 109, No. 6 / MINIMAL ACCESS CRANIAL SUSPENSION LIFT 2085
anchored to the rigid deep temporal fascia REFERENCES
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