Formation of Cupid's Bow and Vermilion Tubercle using Inferior-Based Lip Skin Flap in a Secondary Bilateral Cleft Lip Deformity

The author presents a new method for the formation of Cupid's bow and the vermilion tubercle by using the inferior-based lip skin flap in a secondary bilateral cleft lip deformity. The length of the flap includes the entire length of the previous upper lip scar. Both skin flaps are elevated and turned down toward the central part of the vermilion. The distant portion of the turned-down skin flaps are deepithelialized and trimmed according to the new shape of Cupid's bow. The deepithelialized portions of both flaps are buried under the central vermilion mucosa in order to create the vermilion tubercle. The advantages of the proposed procedure are; provision of a more natural shape of Cupid's bow, the lip length is increased, and the vermilion tubercle can be reconstructed at the same time. Therefore, this technique is best suited for a case of a bilateral absence of Cupid's bow combined with a short lip in a sufficient upper lip of a bilateral cleft lip deformity. The proposed procedure, however, should be avoided in the tight upper lip because of a great deal of tension on the donor.