MIDFOREHEAD INCISION - AN APPROACH TO THE FRONTAL-SINUS AND UPPER FACE

The coronal incision has established itself as the principal surgical approach to the forehead. It allows for a well-hidden scar and a wide field of surgical exposure. The midforehead incision, described in the brow-lift literature, is a cosmetically acceptable alternative to the coronal incision for patients with forehead wrinkles or who are at ri sk for male pattern baldness. In an analysis of 33 consecutive open fr ontal sinus procedures, we compared patients who underwent a coronal a pproach to a midforehead approach for operative time, blood loss, leng th of hospital stay, and cosmetic result. There was a trend toward dec reased operative time and decreased blood loss with the midforehead ap proach. The cosmetic result was acceptable in all patients. We advocat e the use of a midforehead approach to the frontal sinus in patients w ith deep forehead creases and with hairline recession and elderly or i nfirmed patients who cannot tolerate prolonged procedures or significa nt blood loss.