Facial fat: descriptive and fonctional anatomy, from a review of literature and dissections of 10 split-faces

The aim of this study is to describe the anatomy of the fat in the face, based on a revue of the litterature and dissections of 10 half-faces. The facial fat can be divided in two layers. The first-one is superficial, between the skin and the superficialis fascia. Its function is essentially protective and its morphological implications are major, especially according to the facial aging. The other layer is deep, under the superficialis fascia. Its principal function is mechanical and its morphological implications are less important. This layer is made of several fat pads in continuity, excepted the buccal fat pad which is separeted from the others by its own capsula. The other fat pads are the intra orbialis fat pad, the sub orbicularis oculi fat pad (SOOF), the retro orbicularis oculi fiat pad (ROOF), the galeal fat pad and the temporal fat pad. (c) 2006 Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS.