Surgery and Minimally Invasive Treatments Together Enhance Facial Rejuvenation
Study finds combined approach may address aging more effectively

A combined approach that pairs face and neck lift surgery with plasma skin resurfacing may help patients address several signs of facial aging in one operation, according to a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

"There is something synergistic when we use them at the same time, when we're healing both underneath the skin with the facelift and on top of the skin from resurfacing," said Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, MD, of LA Plastic Surgery in Bradenton, Florida, and lead author of the study. "Facelifts alone do not address the skin aging. Facelifts alone do not address volume loss."

A more complete approach to facial aging

The study reviews Dr. Lacerna's experience with 96 patients who underwent a combined procedure: face and neck lift surgery, full-face fat grafting, deep plasma skin resurfacing and topical regenerative treatments including nanofat cream and exosomes.

Facial aging often involves more than just loose skin. Patients likely also have sun damage, wrinkles, changes in skin quality and loss of facial volume. The combination procedure is designed to address these concerns together: surgery repositions sagging tissue, fat grafting restores volume and plasma resurfacing and regenerative treatments treat the outer skin.

Potential patient benefits

Some surgeons have traditionally performed facelift surgery and deep skin resurfacing separately due to concerns about complications. The combined approach did not show an increased risk of complications in this study.

"This is a very safe and effective procedure combination," Dr. Lacerna said. "But I think the key is regenerative medicine. I would not do this without regenerative medicine, without the fat grafting, without using nanofat cream, without exosomes for topical healing."

Plasma resurfacing can be safe for a variety of skin tones when performed correctly. Dr. Lacerna used either low-intensity helium or nitrogen plasma devices based on each patient's unique skin tone.

Combining treatments may also mean one cost, less total time under anesthesia and a single recovery period for patients.

Measured improvements in skin quality

Patients' skin was scanned both before and after the procedure and assigned a skin age grade. On average, results showed a four-year improvement in skin age, an almost 10-year improvement in elasticity and a seven-year improvement in wrinkles.

The author notes that more research, including studies combining facelifts with new FDA-approved "cool" plasma devices and patient satisfaction studies, is needed.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® is published by Wolters Kluwer.

Click here to read "Taking Face Lifts to the Next Level: Case Series Reflecting the Safety and Efficacy of Plasma Resurfacing with Face and Neck Lifts"

Article: "Taking Face Lifts to the Next Level: Case Series Reflecting the Safety and Efficacy of Plasma Resurfacing with Face and Neck Lifts" (doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000012596)