Deep-plane face-lift vs superficial musculoaponeurotic system plication face-lift: a comparative study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Masked comparative trial evaluating two surgical techniques
PubMed 14732637 · doi:10.1001/archfaci.6.1.8
What was done
Four board-certified facial plastic surgeons conducted a masked, randomized photographic review comparing 20 patients who underwent deep-plane face-lift with 20 who underwent superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) plication face-lift. Full-face before-and-after photographs (frontal, oblique, and lateral views) were rated for correction of the melolabial fold, jowl, and cheek areas using five categories (excellent, good, average, acceptable, and poor) over short-term follow-up.
What was found
The abstract reports relative performance without numerical scores, standard deviations, or p-values. Overall, SMAS plication face-lifts scored higher than deep-plane face-lifts. More SMAS plication face-lifts fell into the best category, more deep-plane face-lifts fell into the average category, and both groups had equal numbers in the poorest category. In age-stratified analyses (50-59, 60-69, and 70-80 years), SMAS plication scored higher in the two younger groups, while deep-plane scored slightly higher in the 70-80 age group.
Why it matters
The findings challenge the assumption that the more extensive deep-plane technique provides superior aesthetic rejuvenation compared to SMAS plication in patients under 70 years old.
Limits
The sample size is small (40 total patients split across multiple age subgroups). No numerical data, confidence intervals, or statistical significance tests are reported in the abstract. Follow-up is short term, and complication rates, operative times, and long-term durability were not evaluated.
Cited by
- supports No studies have demonstrated that deep plane facelifts produce better scarring outcomes than SMAS facelifts.