Aesthetic treatment of the columella.
Through a transfixion incision, a rhomboidal portion of both the depressor muscle of the nasal septum and the orbicular muscle of the mouth are excised. The remaining columellar tissues are brought nearer to each other by means of a mattress suture tied over a double-foam bolus. This simple procedure yields three advantages: (1) Tip projection, (2) nasolabial angle opening, (3) Interalar distance reduction, especially in the black population, avoiding the Weir-Joseph procedures. This simple and harmless procedure renders better results than the use of cartilage grafts or silicone implants aiming to project the tip or to open the nasolabial angle. Also, in some cases the patients' smile is enhanced.
Cachay-Velásquez
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Division of Plastic Surgery, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín," Free-docent School of Medicine, Buenos Aires University, Argentina.
Laguinge
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RE
D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D012904:Smiling; D013536:Suture Techniques