A New Technique for Pixie Ear Deformity after Lower Facelift Surgery

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Plastic, Burn & Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Lower face and neck lift may be easily
noticed by most plastic surgeons as well as other individuals,
by spotting some peculiar landmarks. Besides obvious postoperative
scars or other major post-operative complications,
ear synkinesis, also called “operated look ear”, “stuck on”,
“pulled” or “pixie” ear, is among the prominent features [1].
Treating ear synkinesis may be challenging and unsatisfactory
for both patients and surgeons. It would be rather
avoidable than correctable [2].
The reported technique is a simple modification of the
incision around the ear lobe to prevent and treat pixie ear
deformity that may occur following lower facelift operations.

Keywords

Main Subjects


1. Knize D.M.: Periauricular face lift incisions and the
auricular anchor. J. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, 104
(5): 1508-20; discussion 21-3, 1999.
2. Mowlavi A. and Zakhireh M.: Avoiding the “pixie-ear”
deformity following face lift surgery by differential
insetting and secondary intention healing. J. Aesthetic
Surgery Journal, 25: (5) 467-70, 2005.
3- Hatef D.A. and Sclafani A.P.: Editors. Secondary rhytidectomy.
Seminars in plastic surgery: Thieme Medical
Publishers, 2009.
4- Mowlavi A., Meldrum D.G., Wilhelmi B.J., Russell R.C.
and Zook E.G.: The “pixie” ear deformity following face
lift surgery revisited. J. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery,
115 (4): 1165-71, 2005.
5- Connell B.F.: Correcting deformities of the aged earlobe.
J. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 25 (2): 194-6, 2005.
6- Schonauer F., La Rusca I. and Molea G.: Non-surgical
correction of deformational auricular anomalies. J. Plastic
Reconstructive Surgery, 62 (7): 876-83, 2009.
7- Coscia J., Huang A. and Stevenson T.R.: Prevention of
earlobe deformity in face-lifting. J. Annals of Plastic
Surgery, 70 (4): 389-91, 2013.
374 Vol. 43, No. 3 / A New Technique for Pixie Ear Deformity after Lower Facelift Surgery
8- Kim Y.S., Kook D.B. and Hwang E.: A Novel Method for
Correction of the Hypoplastic Pixie Earlobe Deformity:
VY Advancement Flap and Dermofat Graft. J. Annals of
Plastic Surgery, 76 (5): 483-4, 2016.
9- Mowlavi A., Meldrum D.G., Wilhelmi B.J., Zook E.G.J.P.
and Surgery R.: Incidence of earlobe ptosis and pseudoptosis
in patients seeking facial rejuvenation surgery and
effects of aging, 113 (2): 712-7, 2004.
10- Marlen S., Constantin S. and Georgii S.: How to Avoid
Earlobe Deformation in Face Lift. J. Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, 39 (4): 483-90, 2015.
11- Laurence V.G., Wirth G.A., Michaud J.P. and Wood D.L.:
Surgical correction of pixie-ear defect without an exposed
incision on the lobe. J. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 68 (4):
360-1, 2012.
12- Kaye K.O., Casabona G.R., Kästner S. and Paprottka F.J.:
Correction and Prevention of the Pixie Ear Deformity: A
Combined Technique. J. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 1: 14,
2018