BACKGROUND: Hematoma is the most common postoperative complication of rhytidoplasty. Its occurrence increases morbidity and impairs recovery. Internal sutures to close detached areas are used in abdominoplasty to prevent seromas. Taking this into account and in order to reduce the number of patients with hematomas post rhytidoplasty, we have developed a similar surgical procedure in which a hemostatic net is made of continuous nylon 4-0 transfixing stitches to include the skin and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system-platysma. METHODS: A total of 366 patients who underwent rhytidoplasty of at least the middle third of the face between July 2009 and September 2011 were included in the study. Group A was identified as the control group; it included the first 120 patients assessed retrospectively. The remaining 246 patients, who underwent the surgical procedure here proposed and who were evaluated prospectively formed group B. We observed the incidence of hematoma, ischemia, and necrosis in the first 72 postoperative hours. RESULTS: In group A, 17 (14.2%) patients developed hematomas, whereas none occurred in group B. The surgical procedure did not significantly increase the occurrence of ischemia: 11 (9.2%) patients in group A and 16 (6.5%) in group B had this complication (P < 0.3964). There was also no significant increase in the incidence of necrosis, which was observed in 3 (2.5%) patients in group A and 4 (1.6%) in group B (P < 0.4298). CONCLUSIONS: The hemostatic net is an efficient method for the prevention of early hematomas following rhytidoplasty. This surgical procedure did not result in a significant increase in the incidence of ischemia and necrosis.
Hematoma; Rhytidoplasty; Face; Necrosis; Ischemia
