SECONDARY RHYTIDECTOMY

A postoperative questionnaire was sent to all secondary rhytidectomy p atients inquiring about their social and physical recovery rime, compl ications related to either the initial or secondary surgery, and the o nset of any new medical problems or the commencement of any I-new medi cations between the two surgeries. The overall satisfaction rates for both surgeries, time interval between the two operations, and their pe rception of the years of youthful appearance gained from either operat ion were also investigated. The over all satisfaction rate was slightl y higher for the secondary facial rhytidectomy (4.49) than for the pri mary rejuvenation of the face (3.97) (p < 0.06). Patients perceived th emselves as looking an average of 9.31 years younger following primary surgery, as compared to an average of 10.19 years younger following t he secondary rhytidectomy (P < 0.50). The aver age time interval betwe en the primary and secondary rhytidectomy surgeries was 8.48 years (ra nge = 1 to 16 years). Twenty-nine ancillary procedures were performed during the initial rhytidectomy and 70 ancillary procedures were selec ted during the secondary rhytidectomy (p < 0.001). There was no statis tically significant difference for the physical and social recovery ti me between the two procedures. Fourteen of 33 patients (42.4 percent) requiring a secondary rhytidectomy had developed a new medical problem prior to the second surgery (p < 0.001) and 19 patients (57.6 percent ) were star ted on a new medication (p < 0.001). It was concluded fr o m this study that the secondary rhytidectomy patients are more incline d to be satisfied (approaching statistical significance), are more lik ely to undergo ancillary procedures, and, being 10 years older, are mo re prone to have medical problems with deleterious effects on surgery and to be on medications with potential ill effects. Also, observation s have been made that the previous scars pose some limitations, with t ile anatomical changes from the previous surgeries often requring mast erful planning and execution. Skin circulation is, in general, superio r, enduring more tension.