title: Clinical evaluation of techniques used in the surgical treatment of progressive hemifacial atrophy.
abstract: We critically review 13 patients with progressive hemifacial atrophy treated with three basic surgical procedures (free flap transplantation, alloplastic implants, micro-fat injections 'lipofilling') and further ancillary techniques. In spite of the satisfactory results achieved with the procedures, with the exception of alloplasts, we feel that lipofilling may be considered an interesting solution for soft tissue augmentation of the face especially for moderate adipose defects, due to its repeatability, no donor site morbidity, no complications at the recipient site such as lesions resulting from dissection, bleeding, necrosis, etc. This technique can be performed in a day-hospital with short surgery time, at low cost and without a highly skilled team. For severe grades of adipose atrophy, because of the low blood supply to these tissues which interferes with take of any type of autograft, we think that free flaps actually represent one of the best solutions for soft tissue augmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Rotterdam, Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roddi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hovius
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vaandrager
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005150:Facial Hemiatrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous