E-PTFE (Gore-Tex) Suspension Cervical Facial Rhytidectomy

Improving Surgery on the Aging Neck With an Adjustable Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Cervical Sling

“…The vector in the midline is therefore posterior and superior, duplicating the pull of the stylohyoid muscles. This is in direct contrast to a ePTFE cervical suspension described by Conrad et al 41 in 7 patients in whom a "membrane" was placed submentally, anterior to the cervicomental angle, and anchored to the submental periosteum between the angles of the mandible. Although additional support of the submentum was achieved, re-creation of the cervicomental angle was poor, and risk to the marginal mandibular nerve increased.…”

Immediate Gore‐Tex Sling Suspension for Management of Facial Paralysis in Head and Neck Extirpative Surgery

“…In clinical use, the material has demonstrated absent cellular reactivity, long‐term structural integrity, consistency, and ease of clinical application 6 . Gore‐Tex has been used extensively in head and neck reconstruction for applications including static facial suspension, 11 augmentation in dynamic facial suspension, 12 facial implants, 9,13 and suspension cervical facial rhytidectomy 14 . The bulk of published literature has demonstrated excellent functional outcomes with few complications associated with the use of Gore‐Tex in head and neck reconstruction 5,6,12,14–17 …”

“…6 Gore-Tex has been used extensively in head and neck reconstruction for applications including static facial suspension, 11 augmentation in dynamic facial suspension, 12 facial implants, 9,13 and suspension cervical facial rhytidectomy. 14 The bulk of published literature has demonstrated excellent functional outcomes with few complications associated with the use of Gore-Tex in head and neck reconstruction. 5,6,12,[14][15][16][17] In 1987, Levet and Jost 15 demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the use of the Gore-Tex soft tissue patch as a static facial sling.…”

“…14 The bulk of published literature has demonstrated excellent functional outcomes with few complications associated with the use of Gore-Tex in head and neck reconstruction. 5,6,12,[14][15][16][17] In 1987, Levet and Jost 15 demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the use of the Gore-Tex soft tissue patch as a static facial sling. In their experience, 13 patients underwent suspension with a perioral loop and slings of Gore-Tex suspended to the zygomatic arch and the infraorbital rim.…”

Complications of Static Facial Suspensions With Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)

“… 18,19 It is appropriate for rhinoplasty, nasolabial, and lip augmentation and has been used satisfactorily for cervical suspension in rejuvenation procedures. 20 Alloplastic slings are advantageous to temporalis fascia or fascia lata because donor site morbidity is avoided. However, the perfect sling material is not available.…”