Abstract

Early results of bidirectional cone sutures for mid-face lifting in Asian patients

Author(s): Phoebe Kar Wai Lam

Background: There are intrinsic difference facial aesthetics between Asian and Caucasian, as well as racial differences in beauty standards. Bi-directional cones threads are effective in mid-face lifting but there was yet no study in Asians.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects on mid-face laxity the effect size of using bidirectional cone suture for facelifting in Asian patients. Methods: In this prospective study, three pairs of bidirectional cone threads were used for mid-face lifting in 10 healthy volunteers with mild-to-moderate facial laxity.

Results: The validated assessment parameters used in the study were the facial laxity rating scale (FLRS) to evaluate the severity of mid-face laxity and the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS) to assess the severity of the nasolabial fold (NLF). Overall, there was a substantial improvement in mid-face laxity and the NLF after thread lifting, supported by treatment effect size (Kendall W’s value: 0.96 and 0.85, respectively). Significant improvements for both mid-face laxity and NLF were observed in all patients by 3 months (p<0.05)