by Michele Krauss

Constant advances in cosmetic surgery are making it even easier to rejuvenate our appearance. From the latest technology to the simplest procedure, the wide array of enhancement choices makes looking better even more accessible. Let’s take a look at the latest:

Endoscopic Facelifts
Quickly becoming a favorite of surgeons and patients alike, the endoscopic facelift makes use of the latest technology. The surgeon makes small incisions (often less than one inch in length) and inserts an endoscope probe — a small camera — and tiny instruments through the incisions. The lens is attached to a camera connected to a television, which allows for visualization of the surgery. Your surgeon performs the procedure while viewing the television monitor and manipulating the tiny instruments externally.

Instead of the relatively long, continuous incisions typically made during a conventional facelift, the typical endoscopic facelift will require three or more short incisions which are concealed in the hairline and/or behind the ears. Because the incisions used in an endoscopic facelift are significantly smaller than those used in a traditional facelift, the risk of sensory loss from nerve damage is lessened. Endoscopic facelift patients also have significantly reduced bleeding, bruising and swelling. They also tend to recover more quickly and are often able to return to work and other activities within a week of the procedure.

An endoscopic mid-facelift can be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia, and may take 1 to 2 hours. A mid-facelift is performed through tiny incisions placed inconspicuously within the hairline of the temple area and on the inside of the mouth. During the procedure the fat pads of the cheeks are repositioned up and over the cheekbones. This re-draping will improve the nasal furrows caused by drooping fat pads. The convenient size and placement of the incisions result in virtually scarless facelift results. The best candidates for an endoscopic facelift are people with moderate facial imperfections caused by excess fatty tissue and facial muscles that have begun to loosen.

Because an endoscopic facelift involves a few very small incisions, it tends to produce less bleeding and swelling and requires fewer stitches than a conventional facelift. The recovery period following endoscopic surgery is often shorter and more convenient than the downtime required for a traditional facelift. Recovery may also go more smoothly, since this often scarless facelift approach reduces the risk of many complications associated with similar cosmetic surgery.

Mesoporation
Another new technology at the forefront of cosmetic surgery is mesoporation. This painless, fat-melting method uses a positively charged electrode to open up tiny channels in the skin, through which various medications can be passed. Sounds space-age, but it’s not. Mesoporation works with both high frequency and low intensity electrical impulses that make cell membranes permeable and open skin pores leading to increased absorption of ingredients inside the cells. It can be used for rejuvenation, wrinkles, fat deposits, love handles, cellulite, second chins, bleaching, acne, stimulation of collagen and elastin, tissue lifts and any other treatment involving topical or injectable drugs.

Skin Resurfacing
The most low-cost and classic method for facial rejuvenation is skin resurfacing. All skin treatments work in a similar way: removal of a layer of skin so that the new skin can flourish and fill in the wrinkles and crevices. Until recently, the only options to medically treat damaged skin were chemical peels and microdermabrasion. These procedures offer the anti-aging benefits of glowing skin, reduced wrinkles, decreased areas of skin discoloration, and minimized scarring. But these procedures don’t use laser light, and they remove only a thin layer of skin. Laser skin resurfacing uses laser light and treats deeper layers than microdermabrasion.

A variety of options are available for the improvement of skin through photo rejuvenation, which is the use of an energy-based device to improve skin in thermal, mechanical, and chemical ways. Thermage is an example of a thermal energy-based device and was recently FDA-approved for the improvement of sagging skin and facial lines. Recovery from laser skin resurfacing will involve redness and swelling, but this can be controlled with ice packs and medication prescribed by your doctor.

To decide which facial rejuvenation method is right for you, speak with a certified cosmetic surgeon. • American Society of Plastic Surgeons • plasticsurgery.org