Design of a novel surgical instrument for rhytidoplasty: the SMAS suspension needle

This article describes an alternative surgical instrument that can be used for suspension of the malar fat pad. The needle was created using Kirschner wire to ensure that both tips were blunt. The double tip allows for passage of the wire through the superficial muscular aponeurotic system, ensuring that the suture is sufficiently deep to avoid dermatography. The utility of the new instrument was tested in rhytidoplasties involving minimal dissection. The needle described herein was proven safe, and could easily migrate through the tissues, without creating vascular and nerve lesions, and facilitate the positioning of the fixation points at the intended sites. The use of this needle for rhytidoplasty was quick, simple, and cost-effective, without any resulting dissection or damage to the anatomical structures or tissues.