title: A new procedure for improvement of the ptotic melolabial fold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate a new surgical technique for improving the ptotic melolabial fold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  University medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive sample of 8 patients with ptotic melolabial folds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative analysis evaluating surgical intervention. Surgical treatment of the ptotic melolabial fold consists of 3 steps: removal of ptotic adipose tissue, excision of a crescent-shaped segment of skin along the nasoalar crease, and detachment of the dermal-connective tissue attachments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of the improvement of the ptotic melolabial folds and correlation with concomitant aesthetic surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early results demonstrated improvement in the ptotic melolabial fold. Patients were pleased with the procedure, rating improvement as fair to good. The surgeons' evaluation correlated well with the patients' evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Facial Surgery, Murray, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hoff
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*