Understanding Facial Aging Through Facial Biomechanics: A Clinically Applicable Guide for Improved Outcomes.

Understanding the relevance of anatomic and biomechanical principles is crucial when treating the face with soft tissue fillers to achieve a symmetric, soft, and natural-looking result while mitigating the risk of adverse events. The objective of this study is to summarize facial age-related effects, to relate them to facial biomechanics, and to establish guidelines for safe, effective, and esthetically pleasing full-face treatment following 3 basic principles while incorporating the latest scientific developments. This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of facial aging and its implications for facial biomechanics deduced from the authors' experience and research.

Evaluation of aging changes of the superficial fat compartments of the midface over time: A computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on alterations in superficial fat compartments with age yielded contradictory results; the superficial fat tissue volume or thickness was reported to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged. AIMS: To investigate volumetric and dimensional changes in superficial midfacial fat tissue retrospectively in patients who underwent a repeated computed tomography (CT). METHODS: A total of 262 patients (mean age, 46 years; median elapsed time between two CT imagings, 56 months) were included. Axial and sagittal planes were used for measurements of the medial part of the superficial cheek fat (SCF), which is divided into three compartments. The thickness, width, and height of each compartment were measured, and volumes were calculated for both hemifaces. Additionally, results were compared between males and females, and between three age groups: <45, 45-54, and ≥55 years. RESULTS: The total volume of SCF and inferior compartment was significantly increased compared with the first CT findings (p < 0.05). Upper and middle compartment volumes were found to decrease with age (p < 0.05). Thickness was decreased in the upper and middle compartments but not in the lower compartment. The width of the lower and middle compartments increased (p < 0.05), while the upper compartment did not show a significant change with age (p > 0.05). The height of the superficial fat layer was significantly increased at follow-up (p < 0.05). The results were similar for both sexes and all age groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SCF undergoes significant volume and dimensional changes with aging. Therefore, superficial fat tissue should be considered for enhancement of cosmetic treatments.

The mobility of the superficial and deep midfacial fat compartments: An ultrasound-based investigation.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the mobility of the midface and the separate contributions of the superficial and deep fat compartments is essential for natural esthetic outcomes following soft tissue filler or fat grafting procedures. A study was designed that used ultrasound imaging to demonstrate in vivo visualization and quantification of distances and movements in the midface. METHODS: A total of 48 midfaces of 24 healthy Caucasian volunteers, all naïve of esthetic procedures, (22 females; 46.85 (9.8) years; 22.83 (3.1) kg/m2 ) were scanned using 18 MHz ultrasound imaging. Distances between bony landmarks (inferior orbital rim, infraorbital foramen) were used as markers to measure the cranial movement of the superficial (superficial nasolabial and superficial medial cheek fat compartment) and the deep (deep pyriform space, deep medial check fat compartment, deep lateral cheek fat compartment) midfacial fat compartments between resting and smiling facial position. RESULTS: The superficial midfacial fat compartment moved, on average, 3.7 mm (p < 0.001) cranially, whereas the deep midfacial fat compartments moved, on average, 0.1 mm (p > 0.05) during smiling. No gender differences in mobility were identified (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results obtained are in line with previous cadaveric investigations and revealed, in a highly statistically significant fashion, that the superficial midfacial fat compartments move in cranial direction whereas the deep fat compartment did not display similar positional changes. These results help to guide facial injectable treatments and to understand why, in the midface, a deep supraperiosteal approach should be favored when augmenting the deep midfacial fat compartments.

A Novel Volumizing Extended Deep-Plane Facelift: Using Composite Flap Shifts to Volumize the Midface and Jawline.

Traditional superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) facelifting surgery uses a laminar surgical dissection. This approach does not treat areas of facial volume loss, and requires additional volume supplementation with fat grafting or fillers. The novel volumizing extended deep-plane facelift uses a composite approach to the facelift flap. By incorporating a platysma myotomy in the extended deep-plane flap, a novel composite transposition flap can be created that revolumizes the posterior jawline, recreating a defined convex jawline of youth. Special attention is paid to the deep anatomy of the face, and the need for release of the facial ligaments.

Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation.

For optimal results, facial rejuvenation procedures should address both the tissue laxity and volume deflation associated with facial aging. The lift-and-fill face lift, in which fat grafting provides volumetric rejuvenation to the face while surgical lift effectively repositions and removes ptotic and redundant tissue, has revolutionized the plastic surgeon's approach to the aged face. An understanding of the intricate anatomy of distinct facial fat compartments and a systematic method to assess areas of fat atrophy and volume depletion are keys to provide patients with a natural and youthful result. Fat grafting may be used to improve contour in any area treatable by nonautologous injectable fillers, including the temples, forehead, upper and lower orbit, cheeks, perioral region, nasolabial fold, jawline, and chin-with the benefit of a more natural contour and integration with native tissue.

Fat Grafting for Pan-Facial Contouring in Asians: A Goal-Oriented Approach Based on the Facial Fat Compartments.

In Asia, young patients undergo pan-facial fat injection for facial contouring rather than rejuvenation. Although the procedure is widely performed, there is no singular approach that has been shown to have consistent results. The author's approach based on the facial fat compartment theory is presented here. The injection area is classified into functional zones and transition zones. A retrospective review was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach. Satisfactory results were achieved in 96% of cases. In the author's view, this approach is safe, easy to learn, and produces satisfactory stable aesthetic results based on the facial fat compartments.

Facial Anatomy for Filler Injection: The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) Is Not Just for Facelifting.

Facial volumization with filler and/or fat has become an integral part of global facial rejuvenation and provides a finishing touch to harmonize the face after surgical repositioning of soft tissue. However, facial injection is not devoid of complications that can lead to suboptimal outcomes. This article journeys through the facial anatomy for the injector emphasizing the superficial musculoaponeurotic system as a centralized depth gauge facilitating navigation into deep and superficial injection targets. Based on this principle, the fat compartments, ligaments, potential spaces, and neurovascular structures are categorized into planes to assist the injector in performing safe and accurate volume correction.

An approach to structural facial rejuvenation with fillers in women.

Newer understanding of volume loss as a critical component of facial aging and the integration of volume replacement into the surgical and nonsurgical therapeutic algorithm is arguably the most significant recent development in the field of facial rejuvenation. As all structural tissues play a role in the aging face, restoring youthful characteristics (or establishing them where they are congenitally absent) starts from the skeletal framework and builds progressively to the canvas of the face. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction and brief summary of some of the current concepts concerning facial anatomy and the anatomy of facial aging, which serve as the basis for predictable and reproducible results with the use of injectable fillers. This article does not include the various types of fillers or techniques of filler injection, but covers how to decide where to use the filler and why, in different faces, as a result of the recognition and targeted correction of currently recognized specific anatomic deficiencies.

[Skin ageing-General features of facial ageing and therapeutic choices]. / Vieillissement cutané ­ Vieillissement facial global : orientation thérapeutique.

Correction of cutaneous and facial ageing is the key reason for consultations in aesthetic dermatology. This demand on the part of patients, which has become a social phenomenon, has increased thanks to the remarkable progress made in nonsurgical and less invasive therapies such as lasers, botulinum toxin and fillers. But in order to optimise their use and to provide a personalised touch, since each face ages differently, an overall facial analysis, both static and dynamic, is essential. Indeed, ageing is obviously not restricted to skin but also concerns underlying tissue such as muscle, fat tissue and supporting bone. In this article, we provide a clinical and physiopathological analysis of the ageing of skin and of the various types of ageing, whether chronological, hormonal or environmental, and we examine the major role played by UV radiation, as well as tobacco smoke and, in certain cases, pollution. The description of cutaneous ageing covers not only the face, in which photoaging is the predominant factor, but also ageing of skin throughout the rest of the body. Next we describe the general modes of facial ageing for the subcutaneous structures, first those of the skin muscles, which compensate for their atrophy by means of permanent hypercontraction that result in dynamic wrinkles, then those of fat tissue in which ptosis can occur, coupled in some cases with atrophy and loss of the fullness and harmonious facial curves of youth, and those of supporting bone structures and preferential areas of resorption, which are also where the most pronounced ageing of soft tissue is discernible. The upper third, middle and lower third of the face do not age in the same way and the relevant methods of correction thus differ. Finally, we briefly discuss the therapeutic choices available, taking into account the generally extremely reasonable expectations of patients, who tend to seek moderate and natural rejuvenation in keeping with their personality, as well as the elimination of negative expressions associated with ageing, and who want neither a rigid face nor aesthetic cloning.

Autologous fat granule grafting in treatment of the volume lost in aging face / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To conclude the experience of restoration of fat compartments volume intreatment of facial volume lost aging.Methods From May 2015 to May 2018,126 patients with facialvolume lost aging,aged from 34 to 52 years (mean age 42.6 years),were corrected by restoring fatcompartments volume using different sized autologous fat granule grafting technique.Patients' satis-faction was rated using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 1 (most unsatisfactory) to 10(most satisfactory).Results 126 patients with volume lost aging face were followed up from 3months to 2.5 years,the sculpted appearance became more fullness,the laxity,wrinkles and textureof skin were improved obviously,the patients' VAS score was (8.2±1.4).Conclusions Restorationof fat compartments by using different sized autologous fat granule grafting can augment the facicalfullness,reshape the facial contour and improve the aging skin.Therefore it proves to be a safe,multi-effecive and satisfying technique in the treatment of facial volume lost aging.

The layered anatomy of the jawline.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the layered anatomy of the jawline and to provide anatomic background for the formation of the labiomandibular sulcus, the jowl deformity, and the "double-chin" for safe and effective minimally invasive procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two fresh-frozen human cephalic cadavers (32 males, 40 females; mean age 75.2 ± 10.9 years, BMI 24.2 ± 6.6 kg/m2 , 99% Caucasian ethnicity) were investigated by layer-by-layer anatomical dissection. Magnet resonance and computed tomographic imaging was additionally carried out to support the anatomical findings. RESULTS: No major neuro-vascular structures were found to run in the subdermal plane or in the subcutaneous fat. The jowl deformity was identified to be caused by the loose adherence of the platysma to the mandible, which occurs posterior (but not anterior) to the mandibular ligament. The formation of the submental sulcus was identified to be caused by the submental septum, an osteo-cutaneous adhesion spanning all facial layers in the submental area. The formation of the labiomandibular sulcus was caused by the change in the subcutaneous fibro-connective arrangement rather than by an underlying adhesion or ligament. CONCLUSION: The layered arrangement of the jawline predisposes this region for subdermal and subcutaneous treatment options located superficial to the platysma. Subdermal subcision procedures might have a beneficial effect on the labiomandibular sulcus as the boundary between the different types of subcutaneous arrangement, which form the sulcus, is being smoothened.

Updated anatomy of the buccal space and its implications for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

BACKGROUND: The buccal space is an integral deep facial space which is involved in a variety of intra- and extra-oral pathologies and provides a good location for the harvest of the facial artery. The age-related anatomy of this space was investigated and compared to previous reports. METHODS: We conducted anatomic dissections in 102 fresh frozen human cephalic specimens (45 males, 57 females; age range 50-100 years) and performed additional computed tomographic, magnetic resonance and 3-D surface volumetric imaging studies to visualize the boundaries and the contents of the buccal space after injection of contrast enhancing material. RESULTS: The mean vertical extent of contrast agent injected into the buccal space was 25.2 ± 4.3 mm and did not significantly differ between individuals of different age (p = 0.77) or gender (p = 0.13). The maximal injected volume was 10.02 cc [range: 3.09-10.02] without significant influence of age (p = 0.13) or gender (p = 0.81). The change in surface volume was 3.64 ± 1.04 cc resulting in a mean surface-volume-coefficient of 0.87 ± 0.12 without being statistically significant influenced by age (p = 0.53) or gender (p = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS: The facial artery was constantly identified within the buccal space whereas the facial vein was found to course within its posterior boundary. The buccal space did not undergo age-related changes in volume or size which highlights this space is a reliable and predictable landmark for various plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

Anatomy of lower eyelid and eyelid-cheek junction.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the anatomy of the lower eyelid and the lid-cheek junction is important for surgical and non-surgical approaches. It is important to understand the correlation between the clinical presentation and the individual anatomy to direct an adequate treatment. METHODS: A review of the literature based on the authors experience combined with anatomical dissections was conducted to reveal the current concepts of the surgical and non-surgical anatomy. The various anatomical structures important for the understanding of the symptoms and the proposed treatment are described in this article. RESULTS: The anatomy of the lower eyelid and the lid-cheek junction has to be understood as a unit. Structures are continuous from the eyelid to the cheek influencing each other during aging. The concept of superficial, i.e. superficial to the orbicularis oculi muscle and deep facial fat compartments, i.e. deep to the orbicularis oculi muscle has to be applied in order to understand the relevant anatomy regarding the ligaments, fat compartments, muscular and tarsal structures and the vascularization. CONCLUSION: The understanding of the layered arrangement of the lower eyelid and eyelid-cheek junction anatomy enables practitioners to perform safe and effective surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Facial fat compartments: a guide to filler placement.

Advances in anatomic understanding are frequently the basis upon which surgical techniques are advanced and refined. Recent anatomic studies of the superficial tissues of the face have led to an increased understanding of the compartmentalized nature of the subcutaneous fat. This report provides a review of the locations and characteristics of the facial fat compartments and provides examples of how this knowledge can be used clinically, specifically with regard to soft tissue fillers.