Endoscopic Facelift

What Is An Endoscopic Facelift?

An Endoscopic facelift is the process of stretching the skin on the face through minimal incisions made in the scalp with an endoscope to remove visible wrinkles on the face. An endoscopic facelift is a surgical procedure, but no incision is made on the face, only the scalp. The facelift is a combination of a forehead and center of the face, face lift operation. This procedure is aimed to tighten the skin and muscles in the center area of the face to remove sagging and lines to give the skin a younger appearance. 

The method involves using a camera endoscope where the surgeon views and works on the treated area via an external screen. This helps the operation be less invasive.The small incisions are made on the hairline, therefore show no signs of scarring. A forehead lift and mid center surgery can be performed at the same time.

Who Is Suitable For An Endoscopic Facelift?

An endoscopic facelift is suitable for men and women over the age of 30 who are uncomfortable with the visible signs of aging, minor wrinkles on the center of the face and forehead, and minimal sagging. After a consultation, a practitioner will decide on the appropriate treatment. 

Situations suitable for the procedure can be stated as follows:

• Looking for an alternative to a classic facelift, or are afraid to take risks.
• People aged thirty and over with skin that does not show intense signs of aging 
• Emphasize cheekbone by lifting the slight sagging of the cheeks. 
• Individuals with a habit of frequent frowning, endoscopic facelift helps to eliminate the lines that appear on the forehead.

How Is An Endoscopic Facelift Surgery Performed?

The procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia depending on the patient’s condition and practitioner’s advice. 

The surgery involves an endoscope and camera inserted through two centimeter wide incisions made in the scalp near the forehead. With the camera, the surgeon can  see the area to be operated. The excess skin from the sagging areas is pulled upwards and held. The incisions are then closed with stitches.

The procedure can be applied to more areas than one such as, the forehead and cheeks, depending on the aging condition and the need. The duration of the operation varies according to the number of areas to be treated, while a single area can take approximately 1-1.5 hours, in cases where the number of areas increases, the time can be approximately 2.5-3 hours. Swelling, bruising and edema after the procedure are normal and temporary. 

What Is The Recovery Process After An Endoscopic Facelift Procedure?

Compared to a classic facelift, an endoscopic facelift recovery time is significantly shorter and more comfortable, due to being less invasive. After the operation, a plaster is applied on the face to reduce swelling. This plaster is expected to stay on the face for a week. There may be mild edema and slanting in the eyes due to swelling however, this is temporary and should disappear in 2-3 weeks. An endoscopic surgery does not require stitches therefore  3 days should be enough for rest. Patients are discharged on the same day as the operation. It takes about 3 months for the face to take its final shape.

An Endoscopic Or Classic Facelift?

The question of an endoscopic facelift or a classic facelift, is among the most common questions faced by plastic surgeons. Certain factors include the patient’s age, health status, and the severity of wrinkles and sagging area are considered before determining which surgery.

Generally an endoscopic facelift is preferred for many reasons, however the two differences can be outlined as follows: 

• With endoscopic facelift small incisions are made, with a classic facelift, the possibility of scarring is higher as larger incisions are made. 
• People who are after a shorter recovery period opt for an endoscopic facelift. A classic facelift healing period takes longer to return to daily life. 
• An endoscopic facelift allows for the forehead and middle cheek area to be operated on at the same time. 
• An endoscopic facelift provides a more natural result compared to a  classic facelift. This inhibits the ‘dull’ expression.
• The healing process in endoscopic facelift is shorter and less invasive than a classic facelift. 
• A Classic facelift is an open surgery, therefore the risks are higher compared to an endoscopic facelift.