The 3-Level Approach to Facelift Planning: A Simple Paradigm for Surgical Rejuvenation of the Face

Abstract

Our role as aesthetic surgeons demands individualized surgical planning that maximizes patient input and understanding. The value of such shared decision-making (SDM) in aesthetic surgery is becoming increasingly appreciated. This is particularly true for potential patients seeking surgical rejuvenation of the face, where the volume of "educational" information available on the internet, and through various social medial channels, may be overwhelming and even misleading. Presented is a "3-Level approach to facelift planning" named for the facial subregions targeted. This novel paradigm maximizes SDM with its simplicity and reproducibility, serves as an invaluable educational tool for patients, novice and seasoned surgeons alike, and facilitates communication between senior surgeons through its descriptive standardization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Aesthetic surgery education; Facelift; Shared decision-making (SDM).