title: Subcutaneous superficial musculoaponeurotic system grafting of the aging melolabial furrow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a technique of subcutaneous superficial musculoaponeurotic system grafting during rhytidectomy to treat the aging melolabial furrow.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventeen patients received bilateral superficial musculoaponeurotic system grafts from December 1, 1996, through June 30, 2003 (a 78-month period). The patients' charts were reviewed for demographic data, follow-up dates, and complications. Selected preoperative and postoperative photographs were viewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 217 patients, 434 grafts were performed, with a mean follow-up of 23.2 months. Follow-up postoperative photographs showed effective long-term effacement of the melolabial furrow. There was a 0.9% complication rate involving 4 cases of unilateral graft infection that resolved with oral antibiotic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcutaneous superficial musculoaponeurotic system grafting of the melolabial furrow is a safe, effective technique of treating the prominent melolabial furrow. It adds very little time to the rhytidectomy procedure, is well tolerated by patients, and shows durable results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lamperti
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carithers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*