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– Thomas Jefferson

CERVICOPLASTY AND FACIAL LASER RESURFACING:
A PAIRED TECHNIQUE FOR FACIAL REJUVENATION

Bruce M. Freedman, MD, FACS

Purpose: To design a surgical procedure for patients averse to a traditional facelift but desiring improvement in neck contour and facial rhytides.

Method: A distinct group of patients interested in facial rejuvenation were identified based on: specific aesthetic concerns (ptotic neck, facial rhytides); anatomic features (minimal jowling, adequate midfacial structure); and reluctance for a facelift (avoidance of "drawn" look, incisional visibility). A paired procedure consisting of a cervicoplasty (necklift) and full face laser resurfacing was designed to address these issues.

20 patients (ages 46-72) were treated under intravenous sedation on an outpatient basis. A cervicoplasty was performed with medial and lateral platysmorrhaphy as needed. This was followed by full-face laser resurfacing with the Coherent UltraPulse Co₂ laser. Post-operative skin care was prescribed with the open technique and incisions were cared for routinely. Photographs and clinical assessments were made prior to treatment and at 3 and 6 month post-operatively.

Results: All patients noted improvements in skin texture, nasolabial fold depth, mandibular border and neck contour. There were no observed complications. Photographic comparisons indicated a 72% overall average clinical improvement. Using a self-assessment scale of 1 (unsatisfied) to 5 (extremely satisfied), patients reported a satisfaction rate of 4.7 ± 0.3 with the overall treatment and the realization of their expectations.

Conclusion: The paired procedure met patients’ specific expectations for a more youthful appearance while minimizing the incisions and potential problems associated with a traditional facelift. Combining cervicoplasty with full-face laser resurfacing is a safe effective procedure that provides another option in facial rejuvenation.

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