Video-Assisted Endoscopic Transtemporal Multilayer Upper Midface Lift (MUM-Lift)

Minimally invasive surgery has been used successfully recently to improve brow ptosis and forehead rhytids. Because the face tends to age more vertically, rather than obliquely, it makes sense to perform the correction in a more vertical direction. Therefore, the authors introduce a video-assisted endoscopic transtemporal approach to allow a multiplanar (subperiosteal, sub-SMAS, and subcutaneous) vertical upper midface elevation (MUM-Lift) avoiding extensive lateral temporal and preauricular incisions. Between 1996 and 2003, 53 patients (8 males, 45 females; age, 47 +/- 6 years) underwent MUM-Lift. This includes simultaneous forehead lift, blepharoplasties and video-assisted transtemporal sub-SMAS and subcutaneous upper midface tissue release, vertico-lateral repositioning, and fixation. Using the various planes of release in the midface produces less tension on each layer and provides a natural and improved facial rejuvenation of the forehead, as well as of the upper midface. The results confirmed that limited incision forehead-plasty techniques in combination with a transtemporal sub-SMAS and subcutaneous upper midface lift (MUM-Lift) reduces unnecessary vascular compromise on any particular layer and can be safely and predictably performed over the zygomatic muscle. This newly introduced procedure is an exciting feature that has evolved into a useful modality. It provides natural and improved facial rejuvenation.