Subnasal Lip Lifting in Aging Upper Lip: Combined Operation with Nasal Tip Plasty in Asians

Micro-Coring: A Novel Approach to Perioral Rejuvenation

BACKGROUND

A long philtrum and poor perioral skin quality are stigmata of the aging face. Micro-Coring is a novel technology that allows for scarless skin removal.

OBJECTIVES

In this study we aimed to determine whether micro-coring can shorten the philtrum and improve perioral skin quality.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who underwent facelift with perioral micro-coring and age- and BMI-matched controls who underwent facelift alone. Preoperative and postoperative 3-dimensional facial imaging was performed. Standard perioral distances and percentage of change were calculated. Perioral skin quality was evaluated by blinded raters with the Scientific Assessment Scale of Skin Quality (SASSQ) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS).

RESULTS

Thirteen patients and 13 controls were included, with a mean follow-up of 8.9 months (range 3.0-21.5). Patients had significantly shorter mean philtrum length postoperatively compared to preoperatively, with an average decrease of 6.18% (±2.25%; P < .05). Controls did not experience significant changes in philtrum length (P > .05). There were no significant changes in other perioral measurements. Perioral skin elasticity and wrinkles significantly improved in patients compared to controls and patients had significantly greater GAIS scores (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Micro-Coring can achieve perioral rejuvenation through measurable shortening of the philtrum and observable improvement in skin quality. Nonsurgical techniques continue to find new ways to achieve aesthetic goals without significant recovery or scarring and offer value to patients and clinicians.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

Lip Lifting: The Missing Link in Central Facial Rejuvenation

SUMMARY

The lip lift is a powerful yet finesse operation in the realm of facial rejuvenation. In an era of increased popularity of nonsurgical lip augmentation, the astute plastic surgeon must identify which patients will end up with an unnatural appearance should they receive volume enhancement alone in pursuit of central facial and perioral rejuvenation. In this article, the authors review the ideal youthful lip appearance, characteristics of the aged lip appearance, and indications for lifting. The authors present their preferred surgical technique, the underlying principles that it respects, and adjunct procedures to optimize results in central facial rejuvenation.

Advancements in lip augmentation: A scoping review exploring novel techniques

Lip augmentation is among the most popular cosmetic procedures done today. Advancements in trustworthy techniques have made it feasible to alter the visual characteristics of the lips through the utilization of various injectable substances and surgical procedures. However, there is a lack of standardization in these techniques. The purpose of this review is to focus on novel dermal filler injection and surgical techniques for lip augmentation. We did a scoping review of the literature using PubMed, Embase, and the Google Scholar database to identify all original articles published up to June 2023, assessing new techniques that focus on lip augmentation. In our review, only two studies out of seven included studies were surgical whereas the other five studies were non-surgical. This suggests that injection of dermal fillers is currently the most opted technique performed. This review suggests that incorporating perioral rejuvenation into the plan for lower facial surgery can help to complete the youthful look sought by patients. Injectable fillers provide excellent but short-term benefits and additional options such as Modified upper lip lift and French kiss techniques exist that offer the patient permanent improvements at a low cost.

Different Techniques and Quantitative Measurements in Upper lip lift: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The upper lip area is an important component of facial aesthetics, and aging produces an increase in the vertical height of the upper lip. Different upper lip lifting techniques are described in the literature.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to assess both invasive and noninvasive upper lip lifting techniques with patient satisfaction, adverse effects, and quantitative measurements of lifting efficiency.

METHODS

This study was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (OvidSP), and Cochrane Library database were searched from September 14, 2022, to October 12, 2022. Inclusion criteria were reporting on upper lip lift efficiency with quantitative measurements of the lifting degree.

RESULTS

Out of 495 studies through the search strategy, nine articles were included in the systematic review, eight for surgical procedures and one for nonsurgical. Surgical procedures seem to have better longevity than nonsurgical techniques. Reported patient satisfaction for both surgical and nonsurgical treatments was good with no severe complaints. The quantitative measures differ between researches and may be classified into two metrics: anatomy ratio computation using photographic analysis or direct height measurement with a caliper and precise parameters utilizing a three-dimensional method.

CONCLUSION

In general, surgical therapies seem to have a longer-lasting lifting effect on upper lip lifts with an inevitable scar, while nonsurgical techniques are minimally invasive but temporary. There was a lack of consistency in the measurements used to assess lifting efficiency. A consistent quantitative assessment can be beneficial for both clinical decision-making and high-level evidence research.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Impact of subnasal lip lift on lip aesthetic: a systematic review

This study is to perform a systematic review of the literature on surgical correction of the upper lip in order to assess whether the subnasal lip lift technique improves lip aesthetics and maintains its stability. A systematic search was carried out using the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases, based on records published until July 2020. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. In the absence of randomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective cohort studies, case control and case series were considered eligible. Of the 464 articles initially found by the two reviewers, 4 were selected, with 2 retrospective cohorts and 2 case series. The results of the studies showed that 92.4% of subnasal lip lift cases were performed in women with an age range between 21 and 65 years (mean of 36.6 years). Only one of the 4 studies did not contain information regarding the sex and age of the patients. The bull's horn excision pattern for subnasal lip lift was used to perform the subnasal lip lift in 75% of the included studies. All studies pointed to an improvement in lip aesthetics after the subnasal lip lift, based on anthropometric measures and the degree of patient satisfaction while maintaining results for varying periods of time (from 12 to 59.1 months). The studies included in this review suggest that the subnasal lip lift improves lip aesthetics in adult patients and maintains its stability for a certain period of time.

Long-Term Resorption Rate of Autogenous Onlay Graft in East Asian Rhinoplasty: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Autologous material remains the preferred graft material for use in rhinoplasty. However, resorption rates of autografts remain controversial. In addition, long-term follow-up studies on autografts are rare. Thus, the objective of the present study was to access long-term resorption rates of various autologous grafts on the upper nasal third.

METHODS

Medical records of patients who had undergone septorhinoplasty with dorsal augmentation using autologous tissues between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Autogenous grafts applied on the nasal dorsum were categorized into three groups: rolled superficial mastoid fascia, diced cartilage wrapped with superficial mastoid fascia, and rolled sacral dermis. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were used to evaluate resorption rates and projection.

RESULTS

The rolled sacral dermis group showed a steep increase in postoperative projection but a sharp decrease in long-term follow-up projection compared to the other two groups. Among these three groups, there were statistically significant trend differences in rhinion (p < 0.001) and ½ nasion-rhinion point (p < 0.001), but not in nasion. Of these three groups, the rolled sacral dermis group showed the most projection, followed by the diced cartilage wrapped with superficial mastoid fascia group. The resorption rate was the highest in the rolled superficial mastoid fascia group (p < 0.001). Regarding resorption rates in the other two groups, the rolled sacral dermis group had a higher rate than the diced cartilage wrapped with superficial mastoid fascia group.

CONCLUSIONS

At least 50 percent of resorption was observed in almost all groups in the long term. The choice of graft material and proper decision-making could determine success or failure.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Folded Cymba Concha: Is It Large and Stable Enough for Caudal Septal Extension Graft in Asian Rhinoplasty?

BACKGROUND

Septal extension grafting (SEG) is used for nasal tip projection and positioning. Often, insufficient quadrangular cartilage is available for grafting in Asians, and in most secondary cases the septum is already harvested. We utilized the folded cymba concha as an alternative for caudal SEG (CSEG) by modifying a tongue-in-groove technique.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical suitability of the cymba concha for CSEG and compare its outcomes with those of septal quadrangular cartilage.

METHODS

The mean length and width of 311 harvested consecutive folded cymba conchae were measured from intraoperative photographs. Data from 220 patients with >12 months of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed for clinical outcomes. Clinical demography was determined based on the need for additional spreader grafts. For clinical reliability, anthropometric photographs of patients in whom folded cymba conchae were used were compared with those in whom quadrangular cartilage was used.

RESULTS

Mean [standard deviation] lengths and widths of the folded cymba conchae in men and women were 24.2 [3.9] and 22.4 [3.7] mm, and 7.8 [1.9] and 7.2 [1.9] mm, respectively. Use of the folded cymba concha graft significantly increased nasal tip projection by 28.9% and columellar-labial angle by 9.7%, improving both aspects postoperatively. Anthropometric comparison revealed no significant differences between folded cymba conchae and septal cartilage in terms of nasal tip projection (P = 0.264) and postoperative columellar-labial angle (P = 0.182).

CONCLUSIONS

Folded cymba conchal cartilage can be a primary option for CSEG in Asian septorhinoplasty cases or for individuals with insufficient septal cartilage remnants.

Aesthetic Surgical Enhancement of the Upper Lip: A Comprehensive Literature Review

BACKGROUND

The recent rise in popularity of minimally invasive facial aesthetic procedures has resulted in the overall heightened patient interest in lip rejuvenation. There is a variety of techniques and modifications for surgical upper lip enhancement described in the literature but no single method is considered optimal. The aim of this literature review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the studies dealing with surgical upper lip enhancement and evaluate their short- and long-term outcomes, as well as complication profiles.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the published literature through July of 2019 was performed. The PUBMED and Cochrane databases were searched for all English language articles on aesthetic surgical enhancement of the upper lip. Only articles dealing with the aesthetic aspect of the upper lip subunit were included. Preoperative assessment, patient selection and technique execution were assessed. Data were abstracted on all postoperative complications and outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 52 articles were screened for inclusion, of which 17 met the inclusion criteria. The total number of patients treated in these studies was 2265. The average follow-up period was 30 months. The most commonly used surgical method across the studies was the subnasal lip lift (93.6%). The bull's horn excision pattern was utilized to perform the subnasal lip lift in 71.7% of the cases, and the wavy ellipse excision was used in 18.1% of patients. Lip advancement by vermillion border excision pattern was the technique of choice for 49 patients (2.2%). Across all patients the most common complication was a non-aesthetically appealing result or adverse scarring with a mean incidence of 7.23%. Overall, the studies reported improvement in the aesthetic appearance of the upper lip after surgical enhancement, along with few but promising reports of high patient satisfaction. There is a relative paucity of high-quality data regarding complication profiles, patient selection, indications and contraindications.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides an overview of several techniques and modifications for upper lip enhancement. It highlights the paucity of high-quality data on their application and optimizing patient selection. Promising satisfaction rates and relatively low complication rates suggest a more prominent role for surgical cheiloplasty in facial rejuvenation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Subnasal Lip Lift and Its Effect on Nasal Esthetics

BACKGROUND

The subnasal lip lift has emerged as a standard procedure for the treatment of an elongated upper lip. Despite its popularity, limited literature has studied its effect on nasolabial esthetics. The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of the subnasal lip lift on nasal and labial esthetic parameters.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective case review of patients who underwent a subnasal lip lift procedure without concurrent rhinoplasty between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2019. The outcome variables were lip length, tooth show, vermillion display, alar width, nasolabial angle, columellar-lobular angle, Crumley analysis, and Simons analysis. Preoperative and postoperative values were compared and analyzed using paired sample t-tests.

RESULTS

Overall, 55 female patients with an average age of 52 years and a mean follow-up of 14 months were included in the study. Subnasal lip lift resulted in a statistically significant 21.5% reduction in lip length, 31.5% increase in the vermilion show, and a 1.52 mm increase in tooth show (P < .0001). In relationship to nasal esthetics, there was a statistically significant decrease in nasolabial angle of 4.56° (P < .0001), a 2.2% increase in alar width (P < .001), and a 26.3% increase in nasal projection per Simons analysis (P < .0001). The study did not demonstrate a significant change in columellar-lobular angle or Crumley projection analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Subnasal lip lift procedure can significantly impact lower nasal esthetics, specifically by decreasing the nasolabial angle and potentially contribute to pseudo-overprojection of the nasal tip, as shown by the results of this study.

Surgical Adjuncts to Rhinoplasty: An Algorithmic Approach

BACKGROUND

Nasal aesthetics can be significantly affected by the interdependence of the surrounding bone and soft tissues of the face. These include the maxilla, septum, frontal bone, mandible, and the soft tissues and cartilage surrounding the nose. Therefore, it is pertinent to analyze and address these critical relationships of the nose in order to achieve a successful rhinoplasty. This work seeks to describe the battery of adjunct procedures available to supplement a rhinoplasty. Furthermore, each preoperative finding or indication for the adjunct is described in an algorithmic fashion.

METHODS

A literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and a university library database was performed to locate papers describing adjunctive procedures to rhinoplasty. Indications and preoperative analysis were extracted from each paper. If the indication or finding was unclear, supplementary literature describing rhinoplasty and adjunctive analysis were sought in order to supplement our findings.

RESULTS

Sixteen papers in total described adjunctive procedures for rhinoplasty. Each work highlighted a procedure or set of procedures on a surrounding facial feature including the forehead, brow, cheeks, lips, and chin, and neck. In total, 13 adjunct procedures for rhinoplasty are described with their respective indications. Additional literature and techniques were researched to clarify indicated procedures.

CONCLUSION

The ability to correctly understand the critical relationships of the nose can help the surgeon correctly recognize the indication for a rhinoplasty adjunct procedure, leading to better aesthetic balance and surgical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .