title: Application of the two-flap method for nasal alar contracture.
abstract: Reconstruction of the contracted nasal ala has been a very difficult problem for plastic surgeons. Numerous surgical procedures have been reported. However, most operations require multiple stages and leave conspicuous facial scarring and a thick, asymmetrical nostril rim. We have used the two-flap method introduced by Thomson and Sleightholm for isolated naso-ocular clefts, but we have added some modifications to this method: making a deeper backcut into the dome on the mesial side of the contracture and using thinner flaps than were originally used. As a result, we have achieved reasonable symmetry, good color match, appropriate thickness, and no conspicuous facial scarring in every patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwahira
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*