[The distribution of the frontal branch of the facial nerve and its significance in facelift].

[OBJECTIVE] To further understand the distribution and course of the frontal branch of the facial nerve in the temporal and zygomatic areas.

[METHODS] Facial dissection was performed on 9 cadaver heads(18 sides).

[RESULTS] It was found that the frontal of the facial nerve had 3 to 7 divisions (average 5) instead of one. The divisions of the frontal branch showed no constant course and distributed nearly all over the zygomatic arch. We divided the zygomatic arch into 3 equal parts and found that the middle third had the highest density of the branch distribution, accounting for 44.44% of the total divisions; the anterior third and the lateral third possessed 38.89% and 16.66% of the total divisions respectively. These divisions entered deeply into the temporoparietal fascia(the superficial temporal fascia). The divisions in the anterior third of the zygomatic arch innervate the lower and lateral orbicularis oculi muscle; the divisions in the middle third innervate the lateral orbicularis oculi muscle and the frontal muscle; the divisions in the lateral third innervate the frontal muscle and the anterior auricularis.

[CONCLUSION] We recommend discriminating the layers of the soft tissue over the zygomatic arch, not limiting the dissection range of the zygomatic arch to avoid damaging the nerve divisions while doing subperiosteal dissection of the zygomatic arch in facelifting.