The nasolabial fold donor site for full-thickness skin grafts of nasal tip defects.
BACKGROUND
The nasal tip has unique skin texture, geographic, and topographic qualities that frequently make repair of defects in this area difficult from the standpoint of function and cosmesis.


OBJECTIVE
To assess seven outcome variables of function and cosmesis in 41 patients who underwent nasolabial graft repair for nasal tip defects.


METHODS
A retrospective review of photographic and written records as well as person to person and phone interviews with 41 patients who underwent nasolabial graft repair of nasal tip defects after Mohs micrographic surgery was performed. Seven outcome variables were assessed. Follow-up periods ranged from 3 to 28 months.


RESULTS
Patient and doctor evaluators rated overall outcome as good or excellent in 95% and 89% of cases respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider the nasolabial graft to be an important reconstructive option for nasal tip defects when the underlying cartilage is not involved.
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
S A
SA
Booth
M J
MJ
Zalla
R K
RK
Roenigk
P K
PK
Phillips
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome