New technique improves face-lifts for balding men

(HealthDay)—A new method of face-lift surgery eliminates visible scars for bald men undergoing the procedure, according to a study published in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Michele Pascali, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Rome, and colleagues followed 68 bald men who underwent deep plane face-lifting with a specific method for handling skin excess. During an average 12 months of follow-up, physicians evaluated preoperative and postoperative photographs and patients were mailed a questionnaire to evaluate satisfaction.

The researchers report that in the new procedure, the incision is strategically placed so that the outline of the ear helps to camouflage the scar. The investigators found that all patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the final appearance of the surgical scars at the final, one-year follow-up. Men's average rating was 8.6 out of 10 for satisfaction with overall facial appearance and 7.9 for satisfaction with scars. No patient reported regretting undergoing this type of surgery. Similarly, experts gave very high scores for overall facial appearance as well as for specific areas examined, like scars.

"Our proposed approach has proven to be reliably effective in obtaining virtually invisible scars and helps to meet the challenges of face-lifting in men who are bald," Pascali said in a statement.

Copyright © 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.