by David Kupfer, M..D., F.A.C.S.

In the mid 1980s, revolutionary changes took place in general surgery allowing many common operations to be performed through the eyes of an endoscope instead of through standard large incisions. This brought about many advances in equipment, technology and technique. In the 1990s, that technology has made its way into plastic surgery, providing patients with exciting new alternatives.

Endoscopic surgery is a technique in which the surgery is done through tiny incisions enabling the surgeon to view the operation on a television monitor. The endoscope is a 1/4 inch diameter tube filled with fiberoptic cables, which transmits light to form a visual image. With an endoscope, a plastic surgeon can visualize structures and perform operations through these tiny incisions just large enough to admit passage of the instrument.

Endoscopic Surgery Is Ideal For Brow Lifts And Other Procedures

The most common endoscopic plastic surgical procedure is the forehead or brow lift. The brow lift removes wrinkles from the upper face, and eliminates the frowning or angry appearance of aging eyebrows. It is a wonderful procedure for rejuvenating the upper face.

A forehead lift can be done in conjunction with eyelid surgery or a facelift. The advantages of the endoscopic technique are tremendous.

A conventional forehead lift requires an extensive incision that goes from one ear to the other. This can leave patients with an area of numbness involving the scalp as well as the potential for some hair loss along the scar line.

With the endoscopic forehead lift using minimal incisions, the potential for these problems has been virtually eliminated. The endoscopic procedure is suitable for all patients. It is particularly efficacious for patients with thinning hair who would otherwise be unable to disguise the long scalp incisions. Furthermore, with the minimal incisions used, the recovery is faster with less bruising.

We have used endoscopic surgery in our practice for the last four years and no longer find it necessary to use the conventional approach.

Consider These Other Recent Endoscopic Advances
 
Endoscopic surgery is extremely useful in other cosmetic procedures as well. These procedures include tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), facelifts and breast augmentation (breast implants).

Certain patients who desire improvement in the appearance of their abdomen will benefit from the use of endoscopic surgery. Those patients, who have relative weakness involving the muscles which creates fullness in the abdomen, without an excessive amount of skin, do well with the endoscopic approach to tightening and narrowing the waist. Liposuction can be added to this procedure, which can produce very gratifying results that traditionally would have required larger incisions.

Aspects of the face-lifting procedure have also been improved with endoscopic surgery, especially in regard to a newer technique called the midface lift. This procedure is perfectly suited when repositioning the skin that has sagged in the midportion of the face. Endoscopic surgery allows the procedure to be performed effortlessly and with precision. Finally, breast augmentation can also be performed with the aid of endoscopic surgery. When a patient elects to have breast implants placed through an incision in the armpit, endoscopic surgery increases the accuracy of placement. Endoscopic breast augmentation is undoubtedly the most important advance in cosmetic surgery within the last 10 years. The emerging field of endoscopic surgery has added significantly to the plastic surgeon’s ability to perform aesthetic surgery with minimum side effects. These exciting advances have enabled more people than ever to undergo cosmetic procedures and enjoy a rapid recovery with predictable excellent results.Transformations  >