Figure 3. Dissection showing the course of the superficial temporal artery (STA) and temporal branches of the facial nerve (TBFN).

The STA should be controlled early in the procedure to reduce bleeding during the skin incision. Moreover, the STA can be used as a landmark for locating the TBFN depending on the bifurcation point of STA relative to the superior orbital rim. In either case, the TBFN has been identified within 1 cm of the frontal branch of STA above the zygomatic arch.