Ligaments of the Face: Past, Present, and Future

The aim of this study is to search for the origin of the term "ligament" in the face, present its status, and suggest a principle to rectify the use of unclear terminology. The structure that connects the zygoma to the skin was first presented by McGregor (1959). Kaye (1981), in describing his "extended facelift," wrote that the adherent area of the cheek over the malar eminence (McGregor's patch) usually requires sharp dissection. Bosse (1987) reported that the zygomatic ligament is quite solidly bound to the malar eminence and usually requires sharp dissection to release it. The origin of the term was introduced later by Furnas, who stated that when Preddy, a medical artist, prepared drawings for McGregor's slide presentations, she insisted on naming it "McGregor's patch." With the idea that "perhaps" the "retaining ligaments" of the face share a teleologic kinship with Cleland's ligaments or Grayson's ligaments of the hands, Furnas (1989) observed the structure that anchors the skin of the cheek to the inferior border of the zygoma just posterior to the origin of the zygomaticus minor muscle, and named it "the zygomatic ligaments." Subsequently, numerous articles have been published using different terminologies that cause confusion. To rectify the present confusing terminology of the ligament of face, the histologically proven structures should be designated by one term only following the Nomina Anatomica principles. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kun Hwang, MD, PhD, Department of Plastic Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, 27 Inhang-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Korea; E-mail: jokerhg@inha.ac.kr Received 28 August, 2017 Accepted 7 January, 2018 This study was supported by a grant from Inha University Hospital. The authors report no conflict of interest. © 2018 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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