The chest wall and breast asymmetry varies from severe pectus deformities to an isolated breast hypoplasia. In addition to the chest abnormality, a natural-looking breast is the aesthetic challenge in women. Considering that the most common indication of operations is an aesthetic one, any procedures leaving much scars and deformities at the donor site aren't preferred by patients. A 31-year-old female had a 4 x 10 x 2.5 cm sized pectus-excavatum deformity on her right chest, and a slightly hypoplastic breast compared with the left one. The nipple of her right breast was located supero-medially and pectoralis muscles were preserved to some degree at the right side. Through a bilateral submammary and subxiphoid incision, the deformed cartilage was resected from 3th to 7th rib bilaterally and chondrotomy was done at the sternum partially. After this modified Ravitch's technique, two-metal pins were fixated between right 4th~5th ribs and left 4th rib, and the depressed sternum was elevated over the metal pins. The deficient volume of her right breast was corrected by inserting a siliconegel breast implant (120 cc) submuscularly to restore a adequately projected breast. The results of twelve months' follow-up demonstrated a symmetric and well- projected breast. There were no significant chest wall depression or capsular contracture. Restoring a fundamental bony structure would decrease the amount of augmentation needed in the soft tissues. And a silicone-gel breast implant may be used as an the alternative material for whose axillary fold is preserved to some degree.
Adult ; Breast Implants ; Breast* ; Cartilage ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Contracture ; Depression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nipples ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Tissue Donors

Septorhinoplasty in Asians is very challenging in terms of shortage of septal cartilage. Many cases in correction of dorsal and caudal septal deformities requires septal surgery including cartilaginous graft. Septoplasty is a well-known procedure which preserves majority of quadrangular cartilage, however, it is hardly adopted in Asians. The preoperative evaluation is accomplished using nasal endoscopy. The posterior and inferior chondrotomy for septal swinging-door procedure can be performed under endoscopic view. Also, the precise amount of bony spur and excessive cartilage can be excised. Endoscopy is also indispensable to precise hemostasis and turbinoplasty. Asian septoplasty is usually performed with maximal central submucous resection leaving critical L-strut, because surgeons need as much cartilages as possible for proper graft. In caudal septum, posterior septal angle loses its integrity after swinging-door procedure, and also loses the tip projection. This should be reinforced. Furthermore, in patients who have weak septal cartilage, key stone area needs to be reinforced by unilateral or bilateral spreader graft at the same time. Proper bilateral strut at the posterior septal angle continuous with spreader graft at rhinion may confirm the newly made solid L-strut. This solid caudal septum will be the new nasal base for the next tip plasty.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Endoscopy ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Nasal Cartilages ; Nasal Septum ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Rhinoplasty ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Nasal tip support is an essential consideration for rhinoplasty in East Asians. There are many techniques to improve tip projection, and among them, the columellar strut is the most popular technique. However, the conventional design is less supportive for rotating the tip. The amount of harvestable septal cartilage is relatively small in East Asians. For an optimal outcome, we propose an L-shaped design for applying the columellar strut. METHODS: To evaluate the anthropometric outcomes, the change in nasal tip projection and the columella-labial angle were analyzed by comparing preoperative and postoperative photographs. The anthropometric study group consisted of 25 patients who underwent the same operative technique of an L-shaped strut graft using septal cartilage and were followed up for more than 9 months. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative values in the nasal tip projection ratio and columella-labial angle. We did not observe any complications directly related to the L-shaped columellar strut in the anthropometric study group. CONCLUSIONS: The L-shaped columellar strut has advantages not only in the controlling of tip projection and rotation, but in that it needs a smaller amount of cartilage compared to the conventional septal extension graft. It can therefore be an alternative technique for nasal tip plasty when there is an insufficient amount of harvestable septal cartilage.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage ; Humans ; Nasal Septum ; Rhinoplasty ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The epicanthus is a specific feature in Asian. Many techniques have been described to eliminate the epicanthal fold: resection of glabellar skin, resection of medial canthal skin, V-Y advancement, V-W technique, modified Z-plasty, multiple Z-plasties, and others. The authors observed postoperative epiphora after correction of epicanthal fold by periciliary skin flap without damaging lacrimal duct. METHODS: A 19-year-old woman underwent non-incisional blepharoplasty, septorhinoplasty, and periciliary epicanthoplasty. On her history, she didn't have any symptom of epiphora preoperatively. And there was no specific complaint of epiphora during the postoperative two weeks. However epiphora got worse from one month after the surgery. She was out of this country, so the patient re-visited the clinic on the postoperative six months for this on-going symptom. On an ophthalmologic examination, patient's lacrimal duct and sac was intact but both lacrimal puncta of the patient were covered with a thin membrane. This membrane was punctuated by a 25 gauge needle and dilated with a standard dilator. RESULTS: After ophthalmologic treatment, no recurrence was observed during five weeks of follow-up periods. CONCLUSION: Both lacrimal puncta of the patient were only covered with membranes. And we could not confirm the direct relationship between periciliary epicanthoplasty and postoperative epiphora. The probable factors will be a predisposing narrowed punctum, post operative peri-punctal edema and decrease in muscular function of orbicularis oculi.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blepharoplasty ; Edema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Membranes ; Needles ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: A common side effect of the scalp reduction is a creation of a 'slot' with the hair growing in the opposite directions away from the scar. Overcoming the unnatural appearance of the slot has been a vexing problem in the scalp reduction surgery. None of the conventional corrective surgical techniques provides a complete and satisfactory aesthetic result. The Frechet flap is a triple transposition flap used for the correction of the slot defect secondary to scalp reduction surgery, seldom needing further scar revision. The Frechet technique provides a solution to the problem of the central slot concealment that is unattainable by other means, such as; Z-plasty and mini-graft. METHODS: Authors applied the Frechet technique to Asian patients who had undergone scalp reduction and operated on 4 patients from March, 2000 to January, 2001. Average follow-up period was 13 months. Patients with long scars passing through the temporoparietoccipital zone were excluded. All the undermining was performed in the subgaleal plane, reaching the upper auricular sulcus and stopping just above the nuchal ridge. RESULTS: None of the patients experienced infection, hematoma, nor any permanent hair loss. Transient telogen effluvium at the distal end of flap 2 and 3 was noticeable in one case. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results are aesthetically satisfactory without any significant complications.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Scalp

Although there has not yet been a clear determination of the structures responsible for nasal tip support, it is generally agreed that for Caucasians the components of nasal tip support include the attachment between the upper and lower lateral cartilage, the attachment between the lateral crus and the pyriform aperture, the attachment between the paired domes of the lower lateral cartilages, and the medial crural attachments of the caudal septum. To our knowledge, there has been no anatomical study of the nasal tip supporting structures for Asian patients. The purpose of this study is to determine these structures and how they differ from those of Caucasian patients. Ten noses of fresh cadavers were investigated. Dissection was performed and the above-mentioned nasal tip supporting structures were observed and excised. Histological examination was done with hematoxylin and eosin stains and Van Gieson elastin stains. Based on our results, we propose that the structures between upper and lower lateral cartilages, between lateral crus and pyriform aperture, between the paired domes of lower lateral cartilages should referred to as an intercartilaginous ligament, sesamoid fibromuscular tissure, and interdomal loose connective tissue, respectively. There is no identified specific tissue between medial crus and caudal septum. We consider that the loose connection between the domes of the middle crura and the lack of a specific structure between the medial crus and caudal septum might be the reasons why the nasal tips of Asian patients tend to be broad and unprojected with a wide base.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Coloring Agents ; Connective Tissue ; Elastin ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Nose

PURPOSE: The goals of a blow-out fracture reconstruction are to restore the osseous continuity, provide support for the orbital contents and prevent functional and anatomic defects. Over the past several years, a range of autogenous and synthetic implants have been used extensively in orbital reconstructions. None of these implants have any absolute indications or contraindications in certain clinical settings. However, in extensive blow-out fractures, it is difficult to restore support of the orbital contents, which can cause more complications, such as enophthalmos. This study examined the clinical outcomes of extensive or comminuted blow-out fractures that were reconstructed by the simultaneous use of a titanium mesh plate and Medpor(R). METHODS: Eighty six patients with extensive orbital fractures, who were admitted between March 1999 and February 2007, were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' chart and CT were inspected for review. Twenty three patients were operated on with both a titanium mesh plate (Matrix MIDFACE pre-formed orbital plate, Synthes, USA) and Medpor(R) (Porex, GA, USA). The patients underwent pre-operative CT scans to evaluate the fracture site and measure the area of the fracture. A transconjunctival approach was used, and titanium mesh plates were inserted subperiosteally with screw fixation. Medpor(R) was inserted above the titanium mesh plate. The patients were evaluated post-operatively for enophthalmos, diplopia, sensory disturbances and eyeball movement for a period of at least 6 months. RESULTS: No implant-related complications were encountered during the follow-up period. Enophthalmos occurred in 1 patient, 1 patient had permanent sensory disturbance, and 3 patients complained of ocular pain and fatigue, which recovered without treatment. Although there were no significance differences between groups, the use of 2 implants had fewer complications. Therefore, it can be an alternative method for treating blow out fractures. CONCLUSION: The use of both a titanium mesh plate and Medpor(R) simultaneously may be a safe and acceptable technique in the reconstruction of extensive blow-out fractures.
Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Fatigue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Orbit ; Orbital Fractures ; Polyethylene ; Retrospective Studies ; Titanium

No abstract available.
Parotid Gland* ; Salivary Ducts*

Traditional adipose tissue transplantation has unpredictable viability and poor absorption rates. Recent studies have reported that treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) are related to increased survival of grafted adipose tissue. This study was the first simultaneous comparison of graft survival in combination with PRP, ASCs, and SVF. Adipose tissues were mixed with each other, injected subcutaneously into the back of nude mice, and evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Human adipocytes were grossly maintained in the ASCs and SVF mixtures. Survival of the adipose tissues with PRP was observed at 4 weeks and with SVF at 8 and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, volume reduction in the ASCs and SVF mixtures were 36.9% and 32.1%, respectively, which were significantly different from that of the control group without adjuvant treatment, 51.0%. Neovascular structures were rarely observed in any of the groups. Our results suggest that the technique of adding ASCs or SVF to transplanted adipose tissue might be more effective than the conventional grafting method. An autologous adipose tissue graft in combination with ASCs or SVF may potentially contribute to stabilization of engraftment.
Adipocytes/*transplantation ; Adipose Tissue/cytology/*transplantation ; Adult ; Animals ; Female ; *Graft Survival ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; *Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Stem Cells ; Stromal Cells/*transplantation ; Transplantation, Heterologous