Dr. Alan Durkin of Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery has always been a think-outside-of-the-box kind of guy and that innovative streak led him to repurpose a biologic surgical mesh commonly used in breast reconstruction as a natural reinforcement for facelifts. The Meso BioMatrix Biological Facelift invented by Dr. Durkin is now recognized by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) as a new gold standard in facelift surgery.
Dr. Durkin was involved in a study to evaluate a biologic biomaterial used as support for breast reconstruction back in 2014. That biomaterial went on to be approved and marketed and is still used today as anti-gravity support for breasts. When the company introduced a thinner version of the bio mesh, Dr. Durkin was approached to evaluate it again.
“We found that the new version was super strong and paper thin,” Dr. Durkin explained. “It was actually too thin to support the female breast and bowed under the weight. Because it was so thin, I intuitively used it on some cancer cases to help close the gap left from surgery. The skin looked so good and smooth that I came up with the idea to use it for facelifts.
“We did a pilot study of our own and presented it to the manufacturer’s leadership. After we got their approval, we took it to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and showed them the new technique. It was vetted by 30 plastic surgeons who deemed it worthy of a presentation to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for certification. Now my colleague, Dr. (Jimmy) Chim and I are traveling around the country introducing this technique to other plastic surgeons.”
This technique is best suited for patients with significant neck descent or for patients who are undergoing a secondary facelift. Typically, a secondary facelift is done on an older patient who has less skin and structural collagen, as well as scar tissue from the first facelift. Collagen gives support to your skin and Dr. Durkin uses the biological surgical mesh to support the soft tissue in place of lost collagen.
During the facelift the skin and the deeper SMAS layer – the layer of tissue that supports the skin – are lifted, tightened and repositioned to give a more youthful look. The mesh is sewn in under the skin and, after it incorporates into the tissue, it stimulates collagen production, allowing the body to create its own skin-support scaffolding in time.
Dr. Durkin explained that Meso BioMatrix is the only biologic he can safely use for cosmetic facial surgery because it is so thin, measuring only 0.3mm in thickness, and it does not lose its durability.
“The Meso BioMatrix Surgical Mesh is made out of the lining of a pig’s abdomen and is approved by the FDA for biologic use in humans,” Dr. Durkin said. “It’s a homogeneous structure and can be safely used in any part of the body. We were the first to use it in the face and found it helped maintain the contour in the lower face and neck.”
“Once inserted, the mesh gets incorporated into the skin,” fellow plastic surgeon Dr. Chim interjected. “It’s a matrix in a mesh and body grows into it. New vessels and tissue grow into it and it becomes part of the patient.”
Dr. Chim recently joined Dr. Durkin’s practice at Ocean Drive Plastic surgery after spending most of his career working in trauma centers doing trauma reconstruction. He was so inspired by Dr. Durkin’s technique utilizing the Meso BioMatrix surgical mesh for the neck that he came up with a template to use it on the mid face.
“Facelifts started out as just a skin-tightening procedure where the skin was pulled tightly to the side,” he explained. “The skin doesn’t hold well so it didn’t last very long. Modern facelifting relies on the manipulation of the sub skin layer called the SMAS, which carries the fat in the face and continues down the neck. The fatty layer descends over time as we age. I created a pattern and technique where we sew in a piece of mesh after we raise the skin. By adjusting and supporting that layer we can create a natural looking appearance with long-lasting results.”
The goal of both surgeons is to optimize but not radically change a patient’s appearance. They find that most patients don’t really want a reinvention but just want to look younger. They pride themselves on creating a natural result and view this technique as the latest step in the process.
“One of the privileges we enjoy is making people happy,” Dr. Durkin concluded. “There is a huge benefit to structurally reinforcing men and women that want to age gracefully. Because this new technique is biologic, it’s incredibly safe and the effects are long lasting.”
Dr. Durkin is a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstruction Surgeon and owner of Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Surgery, and is vice chairman of surgery at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital and on staff at Sebastian River Medical Center. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami, then earned a M.S. in physics from the University of Chicago and an M.D. from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Chim is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland and completed six years of general surgery training at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. After choosing to specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery, he trained an additional four years at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial health systems.
To learn more about the Meso BioMatrix Facelift or to schedule an appointment with either Dr. Durkin or Dr. Chim, visit www.oceandriveplasticsurgery.com, drop in at their offices at 5070 Highway A1A in Vero Beach or call 772-234-3700.
