The Preauricular Portion of the Rhytidectomy Incision

Techniques for Creating Inconspicuous Face-lift Scars

“…Regarding the placement of the preauricular incision, Becker 4 agrees that the posttragal incision yields improved cosmesis. In his study, 4 surgeons compared postoperative close-up photographs, taken at least 6 months after surgery, of 18 women who had received pretragal incisions with 18 photographs of women who had received posterior tragal edge incisions.…”

Rhytidectomy Incision Techniques and Scar Outcomes: A Scoping Review

“…15 Four studies described both pretragal and posttragal incisions among their study population. 6,[42][43][44] Becker 1994 performed a comparative study comparing 18 pretragal incision scars and 18 posttragal incision scars. Four surgeons scored each scar from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, and each scar was greater than 6 months from surgery.…”

“…43,53,54 Castello et al sent patients a satisfaction questionnaire created by the authors with 5 questions regarding satisfaction with rhytidectomy results. 36 Numerous studies used photographs from varying postoperative lengths of time which were blinded and graded by external judges who ranged from outside plastic surgeons 38,42,55,56 to nonphysician medical staff members 50 to a combination of facial plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, and makeup artists. 43 Very few studies used the same scar outcome grading scale.…”

“…Posttragal incisions received an average score of 2.7, while pretragal incisions received an average score of 2.1 (no p-value reported). 42 Pascali et al reported on facelifting in bald male patients and noted a preference for pretragal incisions. In total, 10% of patients had appreciable scars by nonmedical observers, though it was not clarified where along the scar these were noted.…”

“…(iii) Green/blue: authors who described using both types of incisions. 6,[42][43][44] Scar complications in 0 of 245 patients in studies in which scar outcomes were reported (0%). Illustration by J. Gregory.…”