The endoscopic operation is based on the optic fiber principle and camera on the end of the fiber, the pipe of total reflection can receive the image to the screen at the same time. The doctor can see clearly the anatomic position from the screen, because the screen itself has magnification effect and is more accurate than the traditional way. In addition, the characteristic of the endoscopic operation is that skin opening is extremely small witch can avoid the scar formation. The recovery time is short. This kind of endoscopic face lift mainly applies to the forehead lift.

The indications

Aging situation of initial stage of upper-third face: The forehead wrinkles, the glabella line, the flagging eyebrow, the dropping eyelid, etc. The results for the patients around 40 are the best. It’s better to choose traditional face lift for older patient. In case of associated with endoscopic methods, the outcomes will be better.

Endoscopic methods

The principle for endoscopic forehead lift is actually similar to the traditional operation, with the difference that there are only three to four small incisions (around 1cm) in the forehead and bilateral temporal areas. The big wound in the traditional operation will be changed into several small incisions. The forehead is dissected and lifted with endoscopic equipments then adequate skin tension will be achieved with sutures or screw fixation. The redundant skin on the top of the head and around both ears is not excised. This kind of operation is applied to the patient with mild lax skin or wrinkles. We place emphasis on the small incisions and short recovery time. If the patient showed severe wrinkles or lax skin, the result for endoscopic forehead lift is not so good compared to the traditional operation.

Complications

Excepted the risks of the anaesthesia, The wound bleeding, infection, the skin necrosis, bald head, nerve injuried, pigmentations, and ugly scar formation are rare.

Pre-operative evaluation

If the patients belong to the severe flagging skin of forehead and middle face , perhaps the surgeons must still adopt traditional face lift. Regarding the low face lift, removal of excessive fat and suture relaxed muscles can be achieved under the endoscopic methods. This shares the same principle to choose traditional face lift for severe lax skin of low face.

Pre-operative Preparation

The endoscopic operation is based on the optic fiber principle and camera on the end of the fiber, the pipe of total reflection can receive the image to the screen at the same time. The doctor can see clearly the anatomic position from the screen, because the screen itself has magnification effect and is more accurate than the traditional way. In addition, the characteristic of the endoscopic operation is that skin opening is extremely small witch can avoid the scar formation. The recovery time is short. This kind of endoscopic face lift mainly applies to the forehead lift.

Anaesthesia

Local anaesthesia or general anesthesia depends on the demands of the patients or the doctor’s suggestion.

Hospitalization

It is a clinic operation or the operation of one day in hospital.

Discharge and go back to clinic

The patients will return to the plastic clinic and will receive rehabilitation in one week after the procedure. Removal of the stitches at clinic in case of necessary. Proper wound care and keep the scalp clean at home are important. The patients have any discomfort and problems during that time; please contact with us at any time.

Precautions after the operation

1. Respiratory care: If the patient received general anesthesia, the lung rehabilitations after operations are important, Positive expectoration and activity to promote the lung expansion will be performed.
2. Wound care: The wounds care insisted with change dressings 2 times every day. The patients can wash hair 3 days after operation and can take out stitches and remove staples regularly normally 7 days later. The face resume naturally in about 2-3 weeks after the operation. The patients can take the analgesic pills or receive the injection of analgesia to relieve the pain after the narcotic drugs disappear. Numbness and swelling sensation happed to some patients, but that will recover about three months to half year. If the wound leaves the drainage tube that will be removed around three days. The wound will be a little bit swollen and will get better around three days after the operation.
3. Diet after operation: There is no restriction in diet, but patient should avoid too amazing food, for instance: Coffee, pungent and food containing alcohol. Forbid smoking and accepting the second hand smoke at the same time, the nicotine will cause contrition and will worsen the circulation.
4. Daily routine: The patients should not stay up and should pay attention to daily sun-light protection. Do good jobs on skin care?  In addition, three weeks after removal of the scalp staples, the patients should avoid sports during this time.

Conclusion

After good pre-operative preparations, good pre-operative communication and the understanding the whole course of operation, we can reach the most ideal cosmetic outcomes, and the patients can recover smoothly.