Recent Development and Studies: Skin Resurfacing and Face-Lift in the Same Surgical Procedure

Abstract

When performing a Facelift procedure, we mostly focus on the skin laxity; however, to truly rejuvenate a patient´s face we need to take care of the quality of the skin. Performing any type of Laser procedure in combination with a Facelift will take care of the patient´s sagging, wrinkles, open pores, blemishes, scars, etc. The main objective of this study was to develop the best combination of surgery and laser treatment in order to obtain a technique that is reproducible in different types of patients and that guarantees a good result, little recovery time and no adverse effects. More than 3873 cases have been done with this procedure since 1994, minimal complications have been observed. The facelift and skin resurfacing techniques are performed during the same surgical procedure, in order to save time and improve the patient’s recovery. We started using the facial rejuvenation with surgical procedure technique, SMAS plication and skin resurfacing in one surgical stage in 1994. However, it is needed between 2 to 6 weeks to recover from the skin Resurfacing with CO2 laser. This procedure takes more recovery time and produces more edema, redness and patient discomfort. For that reason, we began in 2000 to perform facial rejuvenation and skin resurfacing with Erbium: YAG and CO2 Lasers (Derma K device). We can also perform blepharoplasty in the upper eyelid and perform the transconjunctival approach in the lower eyelid with the CO2 laser in the cut (ablative) mode.