Superficial Palmar Arch: A Brief History
The history of the superficial palmar arch is quite interesting. Its origin goes back to ancient times when it was used for the treatment of skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. However, nowadays its use mainly consists of cosmetic purposes. According to some studies, the superficial palmar arch is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed worldwide.
There are several reasons why this procedure is so popular. First of all, the superficial palmar arch provides a natural look to the face. Second, it reduces wrinkles and fine lines. Third, it helps with general health care. Finally, it can reduce pain during activities like sports or work.
Types of the superficial palmar arch
There are various types of the superficial palmar arch. These include:
Facial Palmar Arches (also known as Facial Palmar Artery) – This type of the superficial palmar arch is located inside your nose and is connected to your facial bones. The face muscles pull down on these bones, which then pushes up on the upper part of your cheekbones. This causes the entire upper face to become more lifted.
Mental Arches (also known as Mental Artery) – The mental arches are located under your upper lip. They serve no purpose other than to provide a little bit of lip lift and skin tightening.
Lower Eyelid Arches (also known as Maxillary Arteries) – These types of superficial palmar arch serve no direct part of the face. Instead, they are located under the upper eyelids.
The SPA Facelift – This is a combination of superficial palmar arches that includes all the facial muscles and is placed in the nose and under the eyes. This type of superficial palmar arch is believed to provide the most dramatic results.
Superficial Palmar Arches and Face Lift Facts
The term face lift refers to a surgical procedure that removes wrinkles and sagging skin from your face. This type of procedure is also known as rhytidectomy or simply rhytides. A face lift is one of the most common types of cosmetic surgeries in the world. The earliest known records about this procedure appeared in 13th century China, where people used to pull on relaxed skin around the eyes with thin strips of raw beef.
In modern times, doctors started using sutures made from natural materials such as silk. However, these procedures were not always successful and often resulted in infection. As a result, new materials had to be found. In modern times, common face lifts can last from under an hour to several hours.
It is believed that the most successful face lifts contain no more than 1,000 sutures.
There are many types of face lift techniques which differ in complexity and cost. The most common face lift techniques include:
Endotine Technique
This is one of the most common and simple face lift techniques. It is also known as a “corner-lift”. This method relies on the fact that the skin in your cheeks is actually supported by your brow bone and not just by the underlying tissue. During this procedure, your surgeon will cut the skin away from the corners of your mouth and then pull it up to the top of your cheekbones.
This procedure rarely leaves scars on the face and is a suitable procedure for people with little loose skin.
Endotine and Middle Brow Lift
This is a combination of the endotine and middle brow lift techniques. In this technique, your surgeon will cut along the sides of your nose and in the middle of your eyebrows. He or she will then pull the skin of your forehead to your cheekbones. Your surgeon will then pull up your middle brow bone to support the skin above your eyes.
Cobblefield Technique
This face lift technique was first developed in the 1960s and relies on moving the muscles which are not attached to bone and repositioning them. During this procedure, your surgeon will cut the skin covering your ears and jaw and pull it up to your hairline. He or she will then make incisions under your chin and behind your ears and move the skin towards your nose. Finally, your surgeon will reposition the underlying muscles last.
Meso and Subcillary Techniques
These types of face lift techniques are used in cases where the patient has lost a lot of muscle elasticity. During these procedures, your surgeon will make an incision under your chin to expose the underlying muscles. He or she will then cut the bands that connect your skin to these muscles and finally reposition the skin. This procedure is effective but leaves a long and visible scar under your chin.
As you can see, there are many different types of face lifts. These procedures can be expensive and painful and your surgeon will only recommend them to people who are suffering from severe sagging skin. If you are at risk of developing sagging skin in the near future, your surgeon may suggest non-surgical methods to prevent or reduce the appearance of sagging skin. In some cases, these non-surgical methods can be just as effective as surgical face lifts.
If you are interested in non-surgical face lifts, your surgeon may recommend a series of injections to improve the elasticity of your skin. In cases where your skin is beginning to sag but is not yet at the point where it is affecting your appearance or health, these types of injections can drastically reduce the degree of sagging and may even prevent it from getting worse in the future. Your surgeon will be able to give you a more accurate assessment after examining your skin and analyzing your medical history.
Common Face Lift Complications
As with any type of surgery, there are always risks involved. Your surgeon will go over the risks of surgery with you before the procedure in order for you to make an informed decision. Some of the potential complications of a face lift include:
Infection
Serious blood loss
Wrinkles that are unmoved by the procedure that need to be addressed with a second or even third operation
Scarring
Muscle damage
Numbness or weakness of the facial muscles
Temporary or permanent drooping of the corner of the mouth
Temporary or permanent drooping of the eyelid on one or both sides of the face
Temporary or permanent numbness of the cheek and lower jaw on one or both sides of the face
Temporary or permanent facial asymmetry (uneven facial features)
In cases where complications do arise, your surgeon will address them and whether or not further surgery is needed. In extreme cases, physical therapy can be used to treat some of the muscle issues.
Though complications do happen, they are rare when performed by a qualified surgeon. They can occur from improper healing causing a detachment of skin or as a result of an undetected skin condition. When choosing a surgeon, it is important to make sure that they are experienced and have a successful history of performing this type of surgery.
Lifelong Care
Once the procedure is complete, you will need to take care in order for the effects to last as long as possible. Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to avoid damaging your skin during the recovery and stretching period. You may also be given other instructions on caring for your skin such as using certain creams or applying lotions in order to prevent dryness or sagging. In some cases, you may also need to wear a neck brace in order to reduce muscle strain while your neck and chin heal.
Many people are concerned about the pain that is involved with this procedure. You may experience mild to moderate pain after the surgery. This is normal and should subside within a few weeks. In some cases, your surgeon may prescribe medication in order to manage the pain.
It is important that you follow your surgeons instructions on taking the medication as instructed in order to avoid internal side effects. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can be taken for a few days following the procedure in order to help reduce any swelling, bruising, or bleeding.
It is important that you follow all of the aftercare instructions given to you by your surgeon as failure to do so can result in complications or a loss of benefits gained from the procedure.
Risks
As with any medical procedure, there are inherent risks involved. Your surgeon will go over some of the common risks of this procedure such as bleeding, hematoma (swelling), infection, and poor healing. It is important to know that not all of the risks can be foreseen and some might even occur after the procedure is over, however there are some indicators that certain risks are a higher possibility such as:
Blood clots
Incorrect healing
Infection
Poor wound healing
Adverse reaction to medication
Incorrect patient selection for procedure
Other risks can include those that are related to your overall health. If you suffer from diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, your surgeon will take this into consideration and may advise you against having the surgery.
When choosing a qualified surgeon, it is highly advised to look for board certification. This means that the surgeon has been specially trained in this procedure and has proven their skills and knowledge in this field. Avoid going overseas or using unlicensed practitioners, as there are a higher risk of complications and issues.
The most important thing is to make sure that you choose a surgeon that you can trust. Look at before and after pictures of people that had the procedure performed by the surgeon that you are considering. The results should appear natural and should mesh well with your overall appearance.
At your consultation, make sure to ask plenty of questions about the procedure and what to expect during recovery. It might be a good idea to take a family member or close friend with you so that you are able to ask them about details after your meeting.
The results of this procedure can be remarkable and improve your life in a number of ways. This is especially the case for individuals that have serious complications such as difficulty eating or breathing.
For others, it could just help you feel more comfortable in your own body. However, there are some that may elect to not have the surgery at all. The choice is ultimately up to you and only you as to whether the pros outweigh the cons in your own situation.
If you live in or around Los Angeles and are interested in learning more about facial feminization surgery, please contact us online or give us a call at (310) 287-0766 to set up your free initial consultation. We are happy to help and look forward to meeting you!
Sources & references used in this article:
Arterial patterns of the deep and superficial palmar arches by H Gellman, MJ Botte, J Shankwiler… – … and Related Research …, 2001 – journals.lww.com
Superficial palmar arch: an arterial diameter study by VPS Fazan, CT Borges, JH Da Silva… – Journal of …, 2004 – Wiley Online Library
Anatomical variations of the superficial and deep palmar arches by M Loukas, D Holdman, S Holdman – Folia morphologica, 2005 – journals.viamedica.pl
Variations of the superficial palmar arch by K Özkus, T Pestelmaci, AI Soyluoglu… – Folia …, 1998 – journals.viamedica.pl
A morphometric study on the superficial palmar arch of the hand by O Bilge, Y Pinar, MA Özer, F Gövsa – Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2006 – Springer
Variations and Clinical Importance of the Superficial Palmar Arch. by SM Tağıl, AE Çiçekcibaşı, TC Öğün… – Medical Journal of …, 2007 – researchgate.net
Injuries of the superficial palmar arch by JL BUTSCH, JM JANES – Journal of Trauma and Acute Care …, 1963 – journals.lww.com
