Influence of Age, Sex, and Body Mass Index on the Depth of the Superficial Fascia in the Face and Neck.

BACKGROUND Nonsurgical skin-tightening procedures are increasing in popularity, as patients seek aesthetic interventions that are safe with minimal downtime. OBJECTIVE This study was designed to provide precise data on the depth of the superficial fascia-the structure of action-of the face and neck. METHODS One hundred fifty Caucasian individuals (75 men and 75 women) were investigated with a balanced distribution of age (n = 30 per decade: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years) and body mass index (BMI) (n = 50 per group: BMI <= 24.9 kg/m(2), BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m(2), and BMI >= 30 kg/m(2)). The distance between skin surface and the superficial fascia was measured through ultrasound in the buccal region, premasseteric region, and lateral neck. RESULTS The mean distance between skin surface and superficial fascia was for the buccal region 4.82 +/- 0.9 mm, range (2.60-6.90); for the premasseteric region 4.25 +/- 0.6 mm, range (2.60-5.80); and for the lateral neck 3.71 +/- 0.5 mm, range (2.0-5.0). The depth of the superficial fascia increased with increasing BMI, whereas it decreased with advanced age. CONCLUSION Knowing the precise depth of the superficial fascia for nonsurgical skin-tightening procedures will guide practitioners toward safer and more effective outcomes.