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Avoiding Visible Incisions and Loss of Temporal Hair

Russell W. H. Kridel, MD; Edmund S. Liu, MD

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2003;5:325-333.

Patients seeking rhytidectomy desire an improved neckline, jawline, and midface, but rarely at the price of signs that betray a face-lift, namely, visible incisions. We describe our face-lift incisional planning and the rationale behind specific surgical maneuvers for preventing unwanted sequelae. The telltale signs of poorly placed incisions include temporal hair loss, conspicuous scars, an unnatural appearance to the tragus, and a posterior hairline distorsion. Special considerations are given to the male patient and to the salvage of readily visible incision lines from previous surgery.

From the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Dr Kridel). Dr Liu is in private practice in Verona, NJ.