Abstract
Background
Face rejuvenation with barbed tensor threads has been used in a variety of techniques by many authors focused mainly on cheek rejuvenation. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of detailed techniques and descriptions of surgical steps in barbed-thread neck rejuvenation. Here we describe our technique and analyze the results of this approach to minimally invasive neck rejuvenation with barbed threads.
Methods
The main aspect of this technique is placement of a mastoid-spanning barbed thread, which deepens the cervicomental angle and provides more tension than other techniques that use barbed threads but that do not cross the neck midline. A retrospective study was conducted on a group of 67 consecutive cases who underwent this technique in a 34-month period starting in August 2009.
Results
The patients’ average age was 48 years old and the average follow-up was 18 months. Patient satisfaction was high as evidenced by a minimal request for secondary operations. Complications were few and mild, with no cases requiring reoperation for thread removal.
Conclusions
The study showed that neck rejuvenation with barbed threads that cross the neck midline is a powerful minimally invasive rejuvenation technique. The best indication is in patients with initial signs of facial aging.
Level of Evidence IV
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Acknowledgments
The threads designed by the senior author were manufactured by I-Lift Tensor Threads™ (Buenos Aires, Argentine). The company provided free samples for the early stages of this work.
Conflict of interest
The authors have no stock ownership and no commercial relationship with I-Lift Tensor Threads™ (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
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De Carolis, V., Gonzalez, M. Neck Rejuvenation with Mastoid-Spanning Barbed Tensor Threads (MST Operation). Aesth Plast Surg 38, 491–500 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0288-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0288-4