Overview
The authors studied how often complications occur after deep plane facelift, how they were managed, and whether rates changed as the surgeon gained experience. They reviewed 240 patients who had extended deep plane facelift between 2021 and 2025. Early (14 days or less) and late complications were recorded, and the learning curve was assessed in consecutive groups of 60 cases.
Findings
- 240 patients: 206 women, 34 men; mean age 53.3 ± 8.2 years.
- Complications in 30 patients (12.5%).
- Transient facial nerve dysfunction: 14 (5.8%).
- Skin necrosis: 6 (2.5%).
- Alopecia: 4 (1.7%).
- Suture reaction: 2 (0.8%).
- Keloid: 2 (0.8%).
- Hypertrophic scar: 1 (0.4%).
- Hematoma: 1 (0.4%).
- Salivary fistula from Stensen's duct injury: 1 (0.4%).
- Complication rate: 16.7% in the first 60 cases, 8.3% in the last 60.
- Skin necrosis: 6.7% in the first 60 cases, 0% in the last 60.
What it means for a patient
- About 1 in 8 patients had a complication, and most were temporary.
- Complications halved as this surgeon gained experience; the authors link safety to surgeon experience.
- Hematoma occurred in 1 of 240 patients.
- Limits: one surgeon, retrospective, and the abstract does not give follow-up length or aesthetic outcome measures.
Why this paper matters
It shows a learning curve for deep plane facelift, with complication and skin necrosis rates falling as experience grew. It gives a full list of complication types and rates for 240 cases.
Terms
- Deep plane facelift: a facelift that lifts the skin and the deeper SMAS layer together as one flap.
- Learning curve: the change in results as a surgeon gains experience with a procedure.
- Transient facial nerve dysfunction: temporary weakness of facial movement.
- Skin necrosis: death of an area of skin from poor blood supply.
- Alopecia: hair loss.
- Keloid: a raised scar that grows beyond the wound edges.
- Stensen's duct: the duct that carries saliva from the parotid gland into the mouth.
- Salivary fistula: an abnormal channel that leaks saliva.