Midcheek endoscopic anatomy.

BACKGROUND

Surgical approaches to the midcheek area are challenging. Recent clinical reports have proposed minimally endoscopic approach again, in order to obtain to obtain a correct balance between the operation's safety and the cosmetic and minimally invasive outcome, but none of them provides a careful anatomic description of the midcheek area. The purpose of this study was to provide a new anatomic perception of the midcheek area through a detailed anatomic endoscopic-assisted dissection.

METHODS

Four freshly injected cadaver heads were dissected to illustrate the endoscopic anatomy of the midcheek region.

RESULTS

An endoscope provided an excellent surgical window that achieved greater exposure for dissection and at the same time improved magnification of the noble key anatomic elements.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the critical role of the transverse facial artery and the facial retaining ligaments as a fundamental endoscopic landmark that allows the identification of key anatomic structures and the creation of safe surgical corridors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E268-E273, 2016.