Anatomy of the forehead muscles: the basis for the videoendoscopic approach in forehead rhytidoplasty.

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, General Hospital of Beneficência Portuguesa, São Paulo, Brazil.

The musculoaponeurotic system that performs mime for the upper third of the face is composed of the subcutaneous fascia and the occipitofrontalis, corrugator supercilii, and procerus muscles. Perfect understanding of the activity of these muscles provides for correction of horizontal furrows on the forehead, horizontal lines on the root of the nose, and glabellar frown lines. An anatomic gap in the deep layer of the subcutaneous fascia provides for the wide mobility of the scalp and forehead. A natural eyebrow lift is achieved by interrupting the restrictive forces of the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles against the upward action of the occipitofrontalis muscle. The forehead rhytidoplasty through the endoscopic approach can achieve these results with small incisions and without skin resection.

PMID: 7761503 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]