Thomas Haffner
Aim: To present a scar sparing endoscopic facelift as a
further development of the already published Temporal
Endoscopic Midface (TEM) lift presented already in 2014
in Germany.
Methods: A case note study of 8 patients who underwent
a new temporal endoscopic face lift by a single surgeon
over a period of 4-years (2014-2019) was undertaken.
All patients were female, the average age at the time of
surgery 38 years of age (range, 25-46 years).The average
follow up was after 1 year. All procedures were operated
in local anaesthesia under an outpatient setting. The
procedure involves a 5-6 cm small endoscopic temporal
approach, than a special two plane dissection by changing
the dissection plane at the hairline. The facial dissection
plane included the temple, midface and lateral face just
above the SMAS layer. Direct anchoring of the “malar
SMAS” - high malar SMAS lifting - as such a high fixation
of the lateral facial SMAS was made under endoscopic
controll using a special suture technique by the author.
Results: We got high patients satisfaction and pleasing
results in all cases with evident strong lifting effect despite
of the small hidden incision without a facial scar.
Side effects as bruising were minimal, all wounds healed
primarily, without infection. A temporary injury of the
frontal nerv was detected for six month in one case, no
alopecia developed in the temporal region, a zigzag form
scar was inconspicous under the growing hair. A common
facial scar of a facelift with a wound length between
20-25 cm could be spared with the TEF in every case. The
reduced access reduces also the time of the operation of
about 2,5-3 hour and minimizes facial trauma. The temporal
access also allowed a proper vertical vector correction
of all sagging facial structures. An improvement even
a jawling was noticed in every case, however the TEF is
