Technique from SOUTH KOREA - Lateral facial thread lifting procedure with temporal anchoring in deep temporal fascia: anatomical perspectives of superficial temporal artery
Objectives: Thread lifting is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that utilizes threads to lift and tighten sagging skin on the face. In Lateral face lifting with anchoring technique, The threads are inserted into the skin and anchored in place to provide support to the skin at artery free zone.
Introduction: This technique utilizes a long cog thread, allowing for stronger fixation points. The optimal location for thread anchoring is in the fascia of the treatment area.
Materials / method: The study was performed with twelve cadavers with twenty-four specimens of head from cadavers and were processed using phosphotungstic acid-based contrast enhancement micro-computed tomography and conventional computed tomography. The superficial temporal artery with branches of parietal and temporal were then observed with image Slicer program to analyze the safe anchoring place for the deep temporal fascia. The main branch was selected with diameter over 0.3 mm and less than 0.3 mm was regarded as arteriole.
Results: The main branch of the parietal branch located posteriorly were located mean of -13 mm (range of +5.5 mm to -23 mm). And the temporal artery ran most anteriorly had mean of 44 mm anteriorly (range of 32 to 59 mm). The safe area for the tagging is at the deep temporal fascia at between the superior temporal line and inferior temporal line. The safe range of deep temporal fascia is vertical line crossing tragus from 1 cm to 3 cm anteriorly.
Conclusion: By analyzing the result of the superficial temporal artery of parietal and temporal branch the ideal tagging place for the thread anchoring area has been suggested.