Kraissl's lines

Kraissl's Lines are a set of anatomical guidelines used in plastic surgery to determine the optimal placement of incisions for facial surgery. They were first described by the American plastic surgeon Morris Kraissl in the mid-20th century.

Overview

Kraissl's Lines are based on the natural lines of tension in the skin, also known as Langer's lines. They run perpendicular to the underlying muscle fibers and are used to minimize scarring and optimize the aesthetic outcome of surgical procedures. Kraissl's Lines are particularly relevant in rhinoplasty and facelift procedures.

Application in Surgery

In plastic surgery, the surgeon makes incisions along Kraissl's Lines to minimize the visibility of scars. This is because when an incision is made along these lines, the skin tends to heal with a less noticeable scar. This is due to the alignment of collagen fibers during the healing process, which follows the direction of the incision.

Kraissl's Lines vs Langer's Lines

While both Kraissl's Lines and Langer's lines are used in surgical planning, they are not the same. Langer's lines are based on the natural tension lines in the skin, while Kraissl's Lines are specific to the face and are based on the underlying muscle structure. Therefore, Kraissl's Lines are more applicable in facial surgery.

See Also

• Langer's lines
• Rhytidectomy
• Rhinoplasty
• Morris Kraissl