What is an endoscopic facelift?

The endoscopic facelift makes use of an endoscope to perform highly focused surgery in limited areas of the face. The endoscope device is fitted with a tiny camera that enables the procedure to be seen on a monitor while the facelift is in progress. The advantage of using an endoscope is that it helps to achieve dramatic results in a minimally invasive manner. It does not require long and continuous incisions. An endoscopic facelift can be accomplished with about three incisions, each less than one inch in length. As a result, the procedure is less risky, the recovery period is much quicker and scarring is also minimal.

However, the limitation of an endoscopic facelift is that it is useful only in situations where the patient has minimal signs of aging and other defects. It is not a useful procedure for older patients who need a substantial improvement to their face. The ideal candidate for an endoscopic facelift is someone with moderate facial imperfections, who does not have excessively loose skin along with heavy wrinkles and lines.

But many experienced plastic surgeons do not recommend endoscopic facelifts for their patients. The cost of endoscopic devices and their maintenance is very high and ultimately the expenses are passed on to the patients only. Secondly, the results from an endoscopic facelift do not seem to last very long. Therefore, it can be a very disappointing exercise for the patient to undergo the entire effort without long lasting benefits.

Highly experienced facelift surgeons know the importance of a sterilized environment for the patient’s safety. Using an endoscope even with the best of sterilization discipline can sometimes leave room for human error and carelessness. Its potential to transmit diseases from one patient to another makes some plastic surgeons reject endoscopic facelift surgery.

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