[Cleft lip repair using a lateral columellar flap].
OBJECTIVE
Since the important cosmetic structures of a good looking lip, viz. the philtrum column, philtrum dimple and Cupid's bow of a cleft lip repaired with the commonly used methods, are still defective in various degrees, a new method is designed.


METHODS
On the medial side of the cleft, the short philtrum is lengthened and the upwardly displaced Cupid's bow maintained in a lowered position by a rectangular flap transplanted from the lateral surface of the columella. No lip flap has been formed on the lateral side of the cleft.


RESULTS
In a period of three years (1996-1998), 23 cases of unilateral cleft lip, 9 cases of bilateral cleft lip and 14 cases of secondary deformities of cleft lip have been repaired with this new method. All of the repaired lips have normal looking philtrum column (limited by an uninterrupted straight-line scar), philtrum dimple and Cupid's bow.


CONCLUSIONS
The lateral columellar flap method is a more rational surgical procedure for cleft lip repair in that it repairs tissue defect by transplanting tissue from the unexposed area. The appearance of the repaired lip is better than that of the commonly used methods.
Song
R
R
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041.
Liu
C
C
Ma
H
H
D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps