Facial Rejuvenation Techniques and Patient Outcomes
Summary
Facial ageing arises from complex interactions among soft‐tissue laxity, volume loss, skeletal remodelling and ligamentous attenuation. Contemporary rejuvenation strategies address these changes through a spectrum of interventions, ranging from traditional rhytidectomy to minimally invasive thread lifting, injectable fillers, fat grafting and targeted neuromodulators. Advances in anatomical understanding have shifted emphasis towards restoring the facial skeleton and deep support structures as a foundation for long‐lasting, natural results. Patient outcomes are increasingly evaluated by objective measures of tissue repositioning and volumetric change, subjective assessments of aesthetic improvement and quality of life metrics. Minimally invasive approaches offer reduced downtime and lower complication rates, but their durability varies according to biomaterial properties and surgical technique. Conversely, surgical facelifts provide more extensive correction of laxity and deep ptosis, yet carry higher procedural risk and longer recovery. A comprehensive approach often combines modalities to restore structural support, replenish volume and refine surface contours, thereby optimising both functional and aesthetic outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have refined our understanding of age‐related skeletal changes and ligament architecture, informing rejuvenation planning. A 2023 investigation compared medieval and modern facial skeletons using three-dimensional modelling to reveal predictable patterns of orbital and maxillary resorption with advancing age. This work emphasises that skeletal foundation depletion underlies soft‐tissue descent, supporting targeted augmentation of the pyriform region and orbital rims. An earlier anatomical study employed micro-computed tomography to reconstruct the orbicularis retaining ligament as a multilayered fibrous meshwork. By delineating its complex attachment to dermis and subcutaneous tissues, the study elucidates how ligamentous support influences eyelid and cheek contour, guiding more precise rejuvenation of the periorbital midface.
Facial Rejuvenation Techniques and Patient Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in facial rejuvenation techniques and patient outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Barbed thread: A suture with microscopic hooks that anchor into tissue to create lift without knots.
Polydioxanone: A fully absorbable polymer commonly used in barbed threads for gradual support provision.
Rhytidectomy: Surgical facelift procedure that repositions and excises lax skin and deep tissues to reduce wrinkles.
Orbicularis retaining ligament (ORL): Fibroelastic structure anchoring eyelid and cheek skin, critical for periorbital support.
Superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS): Fibromuscular network underlying facial skin, serving as a key surgical plane during facelifts.
References
- Insight into age-related changes of the human facial skeleton based on medieval European osteological collection. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Three-dimensional structure of the orbicularis retaining ligament: an anatomical study using micro-computed tomography. Scientific Reports (2018).
- Comparison of tissue response and lifting effect induced by non-absorbable elastic thread and commercialized threads in rat model. Regenerative Biomaterials (2024).
- Zigzag Barbed Polydioxanone Thread Implantation and Evaluation Using Polydimethylsiloxane Model to Simulate Thread Migration in Tissue. Polymers (2024).
- Changes in the Facial Skeleton With Aging: Implications and Clinical Applications in Facial Rejuvenation. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2012).
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