by Patrick L. Tonnard and Alexis Verpaele, 285 pp (full-color illus), $295, ISBN 1576261913, Quality Medical Publishing, Inc, St Louis, Mo, 2004.
While lasers have come and gone, and filler composition has dramatically changed in the quest for facial rejuvenation, the rhytidectomy has been a constant. Yet, even this cornerstone procedure has evolved. Dr Suzanne Noel, a Parisian cosmetic dermatologist was one of the first parishioners to perform a face-lifting procedure. From this skin-only operation, the face-lift became much more invasive, involving the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and then deeper planes in an effort to maximize results and longevity. With patient demand for less downtime but substantial results, the pendulum has again swung to a minimally invasive approach. Therefore, the arrival of The MACS-Lift: Short-Scar Rhytidectomy, written by Belgian plastic surgeons Patrick L. Tonnard and Alexis Verpaele, is very timely.