New Trends in Face Lifting

Abstract

Laxity of the cheeks and neck skin is a common cosmetic complaint of patients as they age. Improvement of skin laxity can be difficult to achieve without invasive surgical lifting procedures (Alster & Tanzi, 2004).

lifting facial tissues using APTOS (Anti Ptosis) thread is a simple, constructive, and time-saving technique. It helps to avoid scar formation and the need for implants.

These "APTOS" threads are polypropylene sutures that have been modified by designing many dents along their lengths. It holds tissue firmly because of the sharp edges to the dents. They proved successful in lifting various ptotic areas of the face, improving facial contour (Sulamanidze et al., 2002).

The use of the "APTOS" threads for lifting the tissues of the face and neck is a simple, conservative, saving-up, and sparing procedure leaving no visible traces of intervention on the skin. At the same time, the proposed technique proved efficient for correction of the jaw line and for lifting the flabby ptosed tissues in involutional facial alterations (Sulamanidze et al., 2005).

Radiofrequency application through a proprietary device has recently been used for facial tissue tightening. Uniform volumetric heating of the dermis is created by passage of electrical current, while protection of the epidermis is maintained by concurrent cryogen cooling. The application of radiofrequency to the face provides quantitative changes. The brow along the midpupillary line is elevated to a greater degree than the lateral brow. This is consistent with acute angle changes seen in the eyebrow. Improvements in the lower part of the face with radiofrequency application can be quantified by demonstrating a decrease jowl surface (Nahm et al., 2004).