Needle and thread Dr. Graivier, a board certified plastic surgeon with a private practice in Roswell, Ga., says to use this technique, the wire follows the needle under the skin and comes back out the same puncture hole in which the needle is threaded. He says it is a "quick, easy procedure" that can be done under local anesthesia. The incisionless technique allows plastic surgeons to release skin attachments down into subcutaneous tissue levels, Dr. Graivier says. "Up until now, when we've treated facial lines, depressions, folds and depressed scars, we've had to use combinations of injectable fillers (synthetic and natural) or implantable tissue grafts. But the problem with grade 4 or grade 5 nasolabial folds, for example, is that without adequate release, we fill around the skin attachments. The wire technique allows us to release these attachments. In some patients, I don't even use a filler underneath."Lip lines, brow lines, acne scars Dr. Graivier uses the technique to treat radial lip lines. "I've totally released radial lip lines with the wire, and I've gotten very nice results by combining the technique with laser resurfacing," he says. "But I need to be conservative in filling the area so the lip does not appear longer than it is. I don't overcorrect, even with fat injections." The technique can also improve areas harder to address surgically, such as transverse brow lines, in which the surgeon can release the deep transverse lines at the same time as performing the brow lift, Dr. Graivier says. Acne scars, traditionally difficult to subcise, can be released individually or under a larger area, such as the cheek. "The key to the technique is raising the base of the defect and releasing the attachments from the deeper planes," he says. "Reattachment will eventually occur, but the lines or depressions are lessened. The procedure leaves little puncture marks where the instrument was placed and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, depending on the number of areas released." Fillers not always needed Dr. Graivier is currently developing criteria for deciding whether patients actually need fillers after their attachments are freed. "Patients may not need a filler because bleeding and fibrosis occur and help to prevent reattachment," he says. "I've been very pleased with the results with patients who have not gotten a filler." In other patients, Dr. Graivier has placed fat, Radiesse (BioForm Inc.), and, in two patients with retracted breast scars, AlloDerm sheets (LifeCell Corporation). Adverse effects manageable According to Dr. Graivier, edema and bruising at the treated site may persist for three to 14 days. "The procedure requires local anesthetic with epinephrine," he says. "After the subcision is done, I recommend holding pressure on the area for a minute to stop the bleeding. Ice is applied intermittently over the first 24 hours to minimize swelling. In the 20 patients I've treated, one had a small hematoma and another had a localized infection at the puncture site. Both patients responded to local methods of correction." Patients can go back to work the next day and cover the treated area with makeup, but they will have some swelling and bruising, he adds. Patients see their lines and scars released as soon as swelling and bruising subside, Dr. Graivier says. |
