A more conservative open frontal lift

Abstract

Even though the endoscopic frontal lift appeared to replace the traditional open techniques, the initial enthusiasm has been decreasing in the last few years. According to recent papers, in the USA half of the plastic surgeons still prefer the open techniques [2-5]. There are two standard open frontal lifts: the intracapillary or coronal lift and the precapillary one [3]. In both, surgeons transect the galea and revert the frontal flap to treat the frontal, corrugator and procerous muscles [6-8]. As a disadvantage, these techniques require the incision to be long enough and the galea to be transacted all along the skin incision to turn over the flap. As a consequence of that, long scars should be expected as well as an alteration of the sensitivity of the scalp which is often observed as a result of the section of the sensitive nerves of the scalp. Besides, when the arteries and veins of the scalp are sectioned, there is a diminution of the blood supply of the scalp that in the course of years produces a decrease in the hair population of the scalp. In accordance with Knize's concept [8] of the lateral subgaleal dissection of the forehead, I began to try another way of doing an open frontal lift without undesirable side effects. © Springer-Verlag 2007.