Objective:To investigate the effect and safety of the double-cross dressing technique for composite rhytidectomy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 121 patients with face and neck ageing, who were admitted to the Facial and Neck Plastic Surgery Center, the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June 2020 to May 2023, all female with the age ranged 34-72 years old. All the patients underwent a full facial and neck composite rhytidectomy. Immediately after surgery, a double-cross bandaging was applied. The cotton pad was nested on the outer auricle, so that the front of the ear and the back of the ear were the first cross. This cross aimed to accurately pressurized the temporal, buccal region and postauricle flap. The second cross occurred at the radix. It secured composite tissue flap at the zygomatic arch and the buccal fat pad zone. Patient′s external auricle was not compressed after bandaging. The healing and the occurrence of complications were observed.Results:All the patients were satisfied with the comfort of the bandaging, the satisfied rate was 100% (121/121). All the patients had different degrees of periocular and perioral swelling 72 hours after surgery. Conjunctival edema and xanthochromia occurred in 30 patients, and oral mucosal congestion occurred in 25 patients, all of which were spontaneously resolved 2-4 weeks after surgery. Postoperative nursing was easily managed. There were no events such as dressing loosening, blocked draining tubes, and difficulty in replacing tubes. All the patients were followed up for 3-12 months after surgery, the flap in the postauricular area of all patients healed well, and there were no adverse complications such as wound infection, necrosis of the flap in the operative area, and delayed healing of the incision.Conclusion:The double-cross bandaging technique achieves the comfort bandaging and good protection of the face, which is safe and effective.

Objective:To investigate the effect and safety of the double-cross dressing technique for composite rhytidectomy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 121 patients with face and neck ageing, who were admitted to the Facial and Neck Plastic Surgery Center, the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June 2020 to May 2023, all female with the age ranged 34-72 years old. All the patients underwent a full facial and neck composite rhytidectomy. Immediately after surgery, a double-cross bandaging was applied. The cotton pad was nested on the outer auricle, so that the front of the ear and the back of the ear were the first cross. This cross aimed to accurately pressurized the temporal, buccal region and postauricle flap. The second cross occurred at the radix. It secured composite tissue flap at the zygomatic arch and the buccal fat pad zone. Patient′s external auricle was not compressed after bandaging. The healing and the occurrence of complications were observed.Results:All the patients were satisfied with the comfort of the bandaging, the satisfied rate was 100% (121/121). All the patients had different degrees of periocular and perioral swelling 72 hours after surgery. Conjunctival edema and xanthochromia occurred in 30 patients, and oral mucosal congestion occurred in 25 patients, all of which were spontaneously resolved 2-4 weeks after surgery. Postoperative nursing was easily managed. There were no events such as dressing loosening, blocked draining tubes, and difficulty in replacing tubes. All the patients were followed up for 3-12 months after surgery, the flap in the postauricular area of all patients healed well, and there were no adverse complications such as wound infection, necrosis of the flap in the operative area, and delayed healing of the incision.Conclusion:The double-cross bandaging technique achieves the comfort bandaging and good protection of the face, which is safe and effective.