Nontraumatic undermining in rhytidectomies

Abstract

Facial aging is a complex phenomenon for which there is no precise age at which it starts. The whole body, even internal organs and tissues, undergoes significant changes as time goes by. These alterations are more visible and noticed on the face owing to physical and psychological aspects that were not well known until today. For these reasons rhytidoplasty is one of the most frequent operations in plastic surgery since the whole population potentially may think about self-image. The aim of the operation is not to provide eternal youth, but to improve the physical appearance to an image which is more pleasant and better accepted. Vanity is a necessity for each person to value himself/herself as an individual but not as a product of social competition. When face lifting is planned, the surgeon should analyze the biological age of the patient besides the chronological and psychological aspects. © Springer-Verlag 2007.