Abstract
While rhytidectomy can yield remarkable results, some patients may subsequently require
revision rhytidectomy due to either unsatisfactory outcomes from primary surgery or
the natural aging process many years later. Like most other secondary plastic surgical
procedures, revision rhytidectomy is a complex undertaking and fraught with potential
pitfalls. This can be attributable to natural or postsurgical alterations that can
occur with the facial skin, superficial musculoaponeurotic system/platysma muscle,
and/or facial nerve landmarks. Additionally, complications such as cobra neck deformity,
pixie ear deformity, and synkinesis can add an extra level of complexity to revisional
surgery. Furthermore, as more surgeons are performing deep-plane facelifts and more
aggressive neck procedures, the risks are further amplified in revisional surgery.
In this article, we review the challenges that a facelift surgeon may face when performing
revision rhytidectomy and the technical considerations to overcome these obstacles.
Keywords
facelift - rhytidectomy - necklift - revision - pixie ear
