Anatomy of aging facial skeleton

Abstract

The facial lifting or rhytidoplasty is a technique for ideal treatment of facial aging. To provide a jovial result, it is necessary to correct and reposition the anatomical structures without changing the naturalness of the face. For this reason, it is necessary to know all anatomic structures and understand the aging physiological process. The face has multiple layers, as the skin is responsible for prevention of water loss, temperature control, sensory perception, and immune barrier. Subcutaneous and muscle-aponeurotic layers are structures interconnected through ligaments and soft tissue spaces. Through knowledge of the facial anatomy and physiology and the aging process, it is possible to evaluate each patient in an individual way and program the most appropriate treatment.