What is an endoscopic facelift?
Endoscopic facelift is a modern, minimally invasive surgical technique that allows you to correct age—related changes while maintaining the natural volume and structure of the face.
Unlike a traditional facelift, the endoscopic technique does not involve the removal of excess skin or excessive tissue tension. The procedure is based on the redistribution and return of volumes to the central oval of the face. The tissues of the facial mask are separated from the bones of the facial skeleton and chewing muscles, after which they are moved and fixed in an aesthetically more advantageous position.
The history of endoscopic facelift
Endoscopic techniques have been used in medicine for a long time. But endoscopy has only recently been used in plastic surgery. In 1988, American surgeon Oscar Ramirez performed the first experimental operation to rejuvenate the upper third of the face, which became a revolution in the field of plastic surgery.
Ramirez's experiment showed that significant rejuvenation can be achieved without large incisions. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, endoscopic facelift could not be widely used for a long time. Endoscopic operations require compliance with many conditions, specific technical skills and knowledge from the surgeon and the entire operating team. But with the accumulation of experience and the development of technology, endoscopy began to gain popularity among clinics around the world.
Endoscopic facelift procedure
Before the operation, the patient undergoes a medical examination. It is important to identify possible contraindications and prepare the patient for the upcoming procedure.
The operation itself is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Before starting the procedure, the surgeon makes markings on the patient's face, indicating key anatomical landmarks and incision lines. Mini-incisions 1-1.5 cm long are performed in inconspicuous places, on the scalp and on the inner surface of the mouth. This avoids visible incisions on the face. An endoscope and other instruments are inserted through the incisions.
An endoscope is a thin tube with a video camera at the end, which allows the surgeon to see a magnified image of the operated area on the monitor. The surgeon sees all the structures he works with and controls the operation process.
The tissues of the facial mask are separated by a single block from the stationary structures – the bones of the facial skeleton and chewing muscles, and then move to an aesthetically more advantageous position along a vertical vector — from bottom to top, as opposed to the force of gravity. Then they are fixed with special seams.
After moving and fixing the tissues, the incisions are closed with cosmetic sutures. Scars, if they form at all, are usually very small and almost imperceptible.
An endoscopic facelift lasts from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity and volume of the correction. After surgery, swelling and bruising may appear, which disappear within a few weeks. Also, do not be afraid of a temporary change in the sensitivity of the facial skin, it is inevitable due to the specifics of the intervention, but it fully recovers over time.
Types of endoscopic braces and indications for them
Endoscopy is not a universal procedure, but a variety of techniques that adapt to the needs and characteristics of each patient. Operations are conditionally divided into endoscopy of the upper third of the face, periorbitis (areas around the eyes), the middle third of the face and two thirds of the face.
Endoscopic facelift of the upper third of the face is used to correct the area of the forehead, eyebrows and temples.
Indications:
Low-set eyebrows and puffy eyelids in young patients.
Drooping eyebrows, wrinkles on the forehead, excess skin of the upper eyelids in mature patients.
Effect :
Moving the eyebrows to a higher position.
Lifting of the temporal part and smoothing of wrinkles on the forehead.
Opening the eyes, eliminating excess skin of the upper eyelid.
Endoscopic periorbitoplasty is aimed at correcting the area around the eyes, including the upper and lower eyelids.
Indications:
Anatomical features of the area around the eyes that require correction.
Age-related changes such as paint bags, hernias of the lower eyelid, lack of volume in the cheekbones.
Effect :
Smoothing the relief under the eyes.
Redistribution of fat packages.
Lifting of the zygomatic and temporal areas, improvement of the contour of the lower eyelid.
An endoscopic facelift of the middle third of the face is used to correct the area of the cheekbones, cheeks and nasolabial folds.
Indications:
Age-related changes in the middle third of the face: sagging tissues, loss of volume.
Gravitational changes in the cheeks and nasolabial folds.
Effect :
Smoothing the boundaries between the lower eyelid, cheekbone and cheek.
Correction of nasolabial folds.
Moving the volumetric accents from the lower part of the cheek to a higher position.
Endoscopic facelift of two thirds of the face combines correction of the upper and middle zones.
Indications:
Complex age-related changes requiring correction of both the upper and middle zones of the face.
The patient's desire to get the most harmonious result with the correction of several zones.
Effect:
Comprehensive rejuvenation of the upper and middle third of the face.
Lifting of the forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, cheekbones and cheeks.
Improve the overall contour of the face and eliminate deep folds and sagging.
Endoscopic facelift may be less effective with severe age-related changes that require more radical correction methods, or if the patient's skin is very thin or excessively elastic.
At Olympus Clinics, we offer a wide range of endoscopic techniques adapted to the needs and characteristics of each patient. We guarantee safe and effective facial rejuvenation.
Rehabilitation period
Rehabilitation is relatively fast and comfortable. Immediately after surgery, a compression bandage is applied to the face, which helps reduce swelling. The bandage is removed the next day, and small patches remain at the incision sites, which must be worn for 3-5 days to fix hypercorrection and maintain the skin from overgrowth. Swelling and bruising usually peak on 2-3 days, after which they begin to gradually subside.
The first weeks of recovery
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You can wash your hair and apply makeup the day after surgery.
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Light physical activity is acceptable 2-3 weeks after surgery.
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Sports, gym classes, as well as sauna and sauna visits, can be resumed after 2-3 months.
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Ultraphonophoresis and lymphatic drainage massages can be used to accelerate recovery.
When can I return to work?
Most patients can return to work 2 weeks after surgery, depending on the scope of the intervention and the nature of the work.
How long does rehabilitation take after an endoscopic facelift?
The main rehabilitation period is 2-4 weeks, significant swelling and hypercorrection pass during this time. Full recovery is expected in 4-6 months.
Performing a facelift on young and mature skin
The effect that we will eventually get is influenced by many factors: age, tissue condition, the goal we want to achieve, features of the anatomical structure, facial features, the size of bone structures, the volume of the soft-tissue component. It cannot be said that one factor is more important than the other.
On young skin, a facelift helps in correcting anatomical features such as low eyebrows, puffy eyelids, and expressionless cheekbones. The main focus is on moving and fixing tissues without removing excess skin, as it usually does not exist. At the same time, the skin usually recovers faster after surgery.
Since the endoscopic lift is aimed at returning tissues to their original position, the face continues to age naturally. After surgery, age-related changes will also occur in young patients, but more slowly and less noticeably than without the procedure. Endoscopy also does not affect the quality of the skin, since the procedure does not involve strong skin tension.
On mature skin, endoscopy allows you to restore lost volumes and improve the contours of the face in order to restore the patient's youth. Deep detachment and tissue displacement are necessary here to achieve a significant lifting effect. Special attention is paid to preventing excessive skin tension in order to maintain a natural appearance.
Do I need a second facelift?
Repeated procedures may be required 10-15 years after the first operation. Doctors rely on the wishes of the patient, since there are no objective indications for aesthetic interventions. The maximum number of endoscopic braces depends only on the condition of the skin and the patient's health. On average, the procedure can be repeated 2-3 times, but the more operations, the more rigid the tissues become, and the surgeon has less room for maneuver. Each subsequent detachment is a little more difficult, but nothing is impossible.
At what age is it no longer possible to have an endoscopic lift?
Age in itself is not a limitation, the somatic status of the patient is important – the state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases. Safety comes first, and the older the patient, the higher the likelihood of complications associated with surgery. Age-related patients may have high blood pressure, vascular problems, overweight and other chronic diseases. Such conditions increase the risks.
If the patient has concomitant diseases, it is necessary to make sure that they are in a compensated state. When the patient has several somatic burdens, the facial transformation can be divided into stages to minimize the load on the body.
Endoscopic facelift is a modern and effective technique that allows you to achieve natural rejuvenation with minimal risks and a short rehabilitation period. Olympus Plastic Surgery Clinics offer an individual approach for each patient to ensure an impeccable result, safety and comfort. Make an appointment for a consultation to find out if an endoscopic lift is suitable for you.