KEY NOTES CHAPTER 9: AESTHETIC SURGERY - Facelift. Flashcards
What are the layers of the face?
Similar to scalp
- Skin
- Connective and subcutaneous tissue
- Aponeurosis / muscle
- Loose areolar tissue
- Periosteum
What is continuous to the SMAS layer?
- SMAS
- galea
- frontalis
- STF / TPF
- orbic oculi & fascia
- platysma muscle
How are muscles in the SMAS layer connected to the skeleton?
Frontalis - deep galea → superior temporal line
Temporalis - orbicularis retaining ligament → orbital margin.
Platysma - masseteric ligaments.
In the face, what is found in the loose areolar layer?
- retaining ligaments
- spaces
- facial nerve branches
What are true and false retaining ligaments?
True - between dermis and periosteum.
- Zygomatic (from zygoma - McGregor’s patch).
- Orbicularis (from orbital margin).
- Mandibular (from parasymphysis of mandible).
False - between dermis and underlying fascial layers (no bony attachment)
- Platysma-auricular fascia - wide area anterior to ear, where SMAS, parotid masseteric fascia and parotid capsule fuse.
- Masseteric ligaments - from anterior border of masseter.
Why are spaces present in the face?
Areas devoid of attachments between bone and soft tissue and bound by retaining ligaments.
Soft tissue within spaces are mobile, hence malar mounds, jowls, labiomandibular folds (marionette lines).
Name the spaces in the face.
- Prezygomatic space - bound by ORL and ZRLs, laxity causes malar mounds.
- Premasseter space - bound by PAF, ML and platysma (roof). Laxity of platysma results in jowls behind mandibular ligament and labiomandibular fold.
- Masticator space - medial to masseter, degeneration of ML and platysma and inferior migration of buccal fat pad causes deepening of labiomandibular fold.
Tell me about the facial nerve
Enters face within parotid gland (protected under masseter fascia).
- Becomes more superficial to supply muscles in SMAS layer in vertical line with zygomatic, masseteric and mandibular retaining ligaments.
Frontal and mandibular branches most at risk.
What is the blood supply to the face?
ECA branches
- facial artery → paranasal, perioral and submental perforators (divided if facelift flap is dissected medial to NL fold, compromising flap).
- transverse facial artery (STA) → perforators divided when facelift flap is mobilised from malar prominence.
- middle temporal artery (STA) - supplies deep temporal fascia and fat pad, causes temporal hollowing if divided.
What is the sensory supply to the face?
Trigeminal nerve and cervical plexus.
Nerves at risk during:
Brow lift - Supraorbital and supratrochlear
Facelift - great auricular nerve (C2,3), auriculotemporal nerve (runs with superficial temporal artery), frontal nerve.
Facelift (subperiosteal) - infraorbital nerve.
Where is the great auricular nerve?
At risk when dissecting inferior to ear.
Erb’s point - posterior border of SCM and pierces deep investing fascia 6.5cm inferior to tragus.
Supplies sensation to lower pinna.
Tell me the course of the frontal branch.
Leaves parotid inferior to zygomatic arch (within parotid-masseteric fascia (4).
Passes superficial to middle 1/3 of zygomatic arch.
Travels between superficial temporal fascia (3) and deep temporal fascia (5)
Safe to dissect directly on deep temporal fascia (5) (deep to nerve).
Tell me the structural layers and the relation of the frontal branch at:
zygomatic arch
inferior temporal space
superior temporal space
Diagram pg 532
Where is the marginal mandibular branch at risk?
At risk where it is fixed against a ligament.
- Platysma-auricular fascia posteriorly.
- Mandibular ligament anteriorly.
Safe to dissect superficial to platysma.
May be located lower than 2cm below mandible due to ptosis of lower face.
Facelift history
What do they perceive problem to be? What are their expectations of surgery? Why do they want surgery? Smoke? High BP? Medication: aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, steroids? Medical history: healing, bleeding disorders, DM, rheumatoid. Previous facial surgery. Psychological problems.