• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-140
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• 2017

Alloplastic materials used for orbital fracture reconstruction can induce complications, such as infection, migration, extrusion, intraorbital hemorrhage, and residual diplopia. Silicone is one of the alloplastic materials that has been widely used for decades. The author reports a rare case of spontaneous extrusion of a silicone implant that was used for orbital fracture reconstruction 30 years earlier. A 50-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room for an exposed substance in the lower eyelid area of the left eye, which began as a palpable hard nodule a week earlier. The exposed material was considered to be implant used for previous surgery. Under general anesthesia, the implant and parts of the fibrous capsule tissue were removed. Several factors hinder the diagnosis of implant extrusions that occur a long period after the surgery. So, surgeons must be aware that complications with implants can still arise several decades following orbital fracture reconstruction, even without specific causes.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.255-259
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• 2019

Craniofacial cleft is a rare disease, and has multiple variations with a wide spectrum of severity. Among several classification systems of craniofacial clefts, the Tessier classification is the most widely used because of its simplicity and treatment-oriented approach. We report the case of a Tessier number 3 cleft with wide soft tissue and skeletal defect that resulted in direct communication among the orbital, maxillary sinus, nasal, and oral cavities. We performed soft tissue reconstruction using the straight-line advanced release technique that was devised for unilateral cleft lip repair. The extension of the lateral mucosal and medial mucosal flaps, the turn over flap from the outward turning lower eyelid, and wide dissection around the orbicularis oris muscle enabled successful soft tissue reconstruction without complications. Through this case, we have proved that the straight-line advanced release technique can be applied to severe craniofacial cleft repair as well as unilateral cleft lip repair.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.669-674
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• 2008

Purpose: Although there are many ways to perform midface reconstruction, several difficulties exist for selecting the appropriate method, because of its anatomical and functional complexities, donor site morbidities, and poor aesthetic results. Various flaps based on the angular artery can overcome these limitations of the traditional reconstruction methods. The purpose of this study is to suggest an alternative reconstructive method for the midface using various flaps based on the angular artery. Methods: We investigated the relationship between the angular artery and its surrounding structures through cadaveric studies and then applied the findings clinically. As a result, we were able to perform reconstruction with a retroangular flap for defects of the lower half of the nose and the lower eyelid. In addition, defects of the upper half of the nose and the medial canthal area were reconstructed by using island composite glabellar flap. Results: The angular artery was reliable as a pedicle, whether it was used antegrade or retrograde. All the wounds were successfully closed, with the exception of minor complications such as partial skin necrosis and flap bulkiness. The aesthetic outcomes for the donor and recipient sites were satisfactory. Conclusion: The angular artery has diverse relationships with its surrounding structures according to its course of travel, and if a surgeon has a precise understanding of its anatomical location, we believe that retroangular flap and island composite glabellar flap may improve the treatment of midface defects.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2018

Background: The esthetic and functional outcomes of periorbital defect reconstruction are very important because of the complex anatomy and specialized functions of this region. The orbicularis oculi myocutaneous (OOMC) flap is useful for the reconstruction of periorbital defects. But, according to the location and depth of the defects, the reconstruction using OMC flaps with various techniques is rare. The authors have used various kinds of OOMC flaps in various situations and we present an analysis of our experiences. Methods: From November 2001 to July 2017, we used 36 OOMC flaps to reconstruct 30 periorbital defects in 25 patients. We analyzed the cause of the defect, its location, the type of concomitant surgery, the method of flap movement, and complications. Results: Of the 30 defects, basal cell carcinoma was the most common cause, accounting for 20 cases. When the used OOMC flap was classified according to the location of the defects, the switch flap was used in nine cases among 15 defects of lower eyelid, and the V-Y advancement flap was mainly used for other parts. As surgical methods according to the depth of defect were classified, all cases involving the tarsal plate were reconstructed with a composite graft. In case of skin and muscles, they were reconstructed only with OOMC flap or with full-thickness skin graft. Conclusion: The OOMC flap provides good skin quality that is very similar to that of the defect tissue. Depending on the location and depth of the defect, the OOMC flap may be used properly in a variety of ways to achieve good results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.295-299
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• 2011

Purpose: It is generally believed that alopecia is caused by various factors such as scars, stress, genetical factors, androgens, etc. Androgenic alopecia is one of the most common cause of alopecia and found mainly in males. Propecia (Merck & Co., USA) and Minoxidil (McNEIL-PPC, Inc, USA) were the drugs approved from FDA for treatment of androgenic alopecia. Surgical treatments such as flap, tissue expansion, scalp reduction and hair transplantation can be considered if necessary. Hair micrograft techniques were developed for natural hair shapes and minimal adverse effect. There were attempts to measure the length of the forehead of the Korean young adults. However attempts to classify the shape and location of forehead hairline were rare. This study attempted to find out standard hairlines of young adults in their 20s & 30s and the result would be the guideline of the hairline in hair replacement surgery of male patients in their 40s & 50s. Methods: 200 male adults in 20s and 30s were photographed and measured the length of 11 vertical index lines to determine hairline. The indexes are the distances from hairline to intercanthal midpoint (A), to medial canthus (B), to upper eyelid fissure (C), to lower eyelid fissure (D), to lateral canthus (E) and distance from lateral highest point to medial lowest point, if the hairline is M-shape (F). Additionally, we classified the hairlines into 4 groups, M, horizontal, inverted U and irregular shapes. Results: The most common hairline of male adults in their 20s is inverted U-shape (53.3%), followed by horizontal-shape, M-shape, irregular-shape. In their 30s, inverted U-shape (59%) is followed by irregular-shape, M-shape, horizontal-shape. The M-shape is more frequently found in males in 30s than those in 20s. The mean values of the indexes in their 20s are as follows: A (76.14 mm), B (Rt: 75.78 mm, Lt:76.41 mm), C (Rt: 69.43 mm, Lt: 69.92 mm), D (Rt: 76.92 mm, Lt:77.46 mm), E (Rt: 64.16 mm, Lt: 64.73 mm), F (4.09 mm). Those in their 30s are as follows: A (76.13 mm), B (Rt: 76.114 mm, Lt: 76.02 mm), C (Rt: 69.87 mm, Lt: 70.37 mm), D (Rt: 77.37 mm, Lt: 77.58 mm), E (Rt: 69.63 mm, Lt: 69.85 mm), F (6.14 mm). Conclusion: The knowledge about human body measurement is indispensable to plastic surgeons. In this study, inverted U shape is the most common type of hairline in 30s, and similar distribution is found in 20s. The percentage of M shape in their 30s is elevated more than 10% compared to that in their 20s. The study of hairline shapes and 11 indexes of hairlines can be useful for planning of the hair transplantation and postoperative evaluation. This study being based on photogrammetry, there may be differences between actual distance of curved face and projected distance on flat photographs.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2008

Purpose: For facial reconstruction, skin color match is crucial to achieve great aesthetic result. Forehead flap and full thickness skin graft have been used for many years to reconstruct facial defect. Their results are aesthetically valuable with remarkable resemblance and harmony of the skin color between donor and recipient sites. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the aesthetic outcome of the two methods as the analysis of skin color match. Methods: From January 1995 to December 2005, ten forehead flaps and ten full thickness skin grafts were performed. The reconstructed areas of forehead flaps were five noses and five eyelids. Recipient sites of full thickness skin grafts were seven eyelids, two noses and one forehead. In order to obtain the objective validity, the skin color of flap(or graft) and the recipient sites were measured by chromameter. The skin colors were quantified according to a three-dimensional coordinate system used in chromameter, L*(brightness), a*(redness), and b*(yellowness).Results: There was no significant color difference between forehead flap site and adjacent skin in all color values. On the other hand, the L* and b* values of graft sites were significantly lower than those of the adjacent skins. The a* values of graft sites were higher than those of the adjacent skins. Conclusion: This study reveals that skin color match of forehead flap is greater than that of full thickness skin graft. As forehead flap has adequate volume and great color match, it can be useful to reconstruct deep facial defect such as nasal defect. On the other hand, full thickness skin graft can be used for superficial defect like partial eyelid defect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.659-662
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• 2006

Purpose: Alloplastic implants, such as methylmethacrylate, Teflon, silicone, Supramid are commonly used to cover the floor defect and to prevent reherniation of the displaced orbital tissue in orbital floor fracture. Silicone implant has been used for reconstruction of orbital wall defects because of pliability, advantage of carving and chemically inert nature. However, silicone implant also has complications including infection, extrusion, pain, dystopia and tissue reaction. Cyst formation around the silicone implant is a very rare complication. According to many reports, cysts around alloplastic implant in an orbital area are mostly hemorrhagic cysts consisted of blood breakdown product with fibrous capsule cell in histologic examination. Methods: The authors report atypical case and successful treatment of intraorbital hemorrhagic cyst around silicone implant of a 37-year-old male patient. Results: Preoperative symptoms of diplopia, exophthalmos, proptosis, vertical dystopia and ectropion of lower eyelid were resolved after surgical removal of implants with surrounding capsule. Conclusion: Clinical suspicion of plastic surgeon is important in diagnosis of intraorbital cyst of patients who have history of silicone implantation and computed tomography is the standard tool of diagnosis. During the operation, caution must be taken on delivering the whole capsule of intraorbital cyst along with silicone implant to prevent recurrence of the cyst.