INTRODUCTION: Asian faces generally are wider and flatter than Caucasian’s. So, facial bone contouring procedures, which are malar and mandibular angle reduction surgeries, are particularly popular in Asia. After that, one of the potential consequences is soft tissue drooping in cheek or jowl.1, 2Patient with soft tissue drooping looks old and gloomy. Even though it has been increasing in popularity, there are no studies regarding this conceivable sequella and treatment. The author would like to discuss about facelift technique for the management of soft tissue drooping after facial bone contouring surgery.
METHODS: Thirty patients, who had suffered from facial soft tissue drooping after facial bone contouring procedures, underwent facelift procedures to improve it. ‘High Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System(SMAS) Facelift with Finger-Assisted Facial Spaces Dissection’, which include release of zygomatic and upper masseteric retaining ligaments in the sub-SMAS plane, was used for all cases.3The indication for surgery was typical sagging of the middle and lower face associated with facial bone contouring surgeries.
RESULTS: Among the 30 Asian patients (27 women, 3 men), mean age was 38.8 years (range, 25–59 years). Mean postoperative follow-up was 24 months (range, 12–38 months). In all cases, clinical improvement was seen in the middle and lower face. One patient (3.4%) had a hematoma, which was surgically evacuated. There were no other complications during the follow-up period.
CONCLUSION: Facial bone contouring procedures such as malar and mandibular angle reduction surgeries are getting popular to improve the wide facial features with economic development in Asia. However, it can result in soft tissue drooping in cheek or jowl. Asian distinct facial characteristics make achievement of satisfactory results relatively difficult in facelift. The author utilizes ‘high SMAS facelift with finger-assisted facial spaces dissection’, which incorporating high-SMAS, extended SMAS, and FAME procedures is effective to improve this unsatisfactory postoperative outcome.