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Endoscopic Facial Surgery

One of the most exciting advances in cosmetic surgery has been the use of the endoscope in facial rejuvenation.  An endoscope is a small camera which can be inserted through a tiny cut in the skin and which transmits an image of the underlying tissues to a T.V. screen.  Many people are familiar with endoscopy as it is applied by orthopedic surgeons to treat cartilage damage in joints (arthroscopy) and by gynecologists to examine pelvic organs (laparoscopy).  This relatively old technology has now been applied to cosmetic surgery.  Plastic surgeons are now able to perform brow lifts through several tiny incisions in the scalp.  Until recently, the only way a brow lift could be performed was with an "ear to ear" incision.

Even more exciting is that plastic surgeons are now performing full face lifts through the endoscope.  In those patients whose complaints are of mid face and jowl sagging rather than skin excess, a face lift can be performed through several small puncture wounds in the scalp and a lower eyelid incision.  The best candidates for this procedure are those patients in their 30s and 40s with good skin tone.  These minimal incisions for facelift surgery have allowed the treatment of the aging face to extend to much younger patients with significantly improved results.