Combination micrografting and tattooing in the reconstruction of eyebrows of patients with craniofacial clefts.
The absence of an eyebrow, either partial or total, has been observed in patients with craniofacial clefts, such as the Tessier 9 to 13 cleft. Several techniques have been used to improve the appearance of the region, such as island scalp flaps and scalp strip grafting, with limited or marginally satisfactory aesthetic results. The authors report 2 patients with craniofacial clefts in whom a novel technique combining 2 separate surgical approaches, micrografting and tattooing, was used. The use of micrografting with single or double hair units, properly angulated, produces natural-looking and satisfactory results with a minimum of morbidity. Excellent volume and appearance of the eyebrow may be achieved in a single session using this technique. Tattooing performed subsequently over the microimplanted hairs provides the illusion of greater density to the eyebrow, resulting in an appearance closer to normal.
da Silva Freitas
Renato
R
Section of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. dr.renato.freitas@gmail.com
Bertolotte
Wagner
W
Shin
Joseph
J
Busato
Luciano
L
Alonso
Nivaldo
N
Grande
César Vinicius
CV
de Oliveira e Cruz
Gilvani Azor
GA
D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005138:Eyebrows / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012535:Scalp / Q000637:transplantation; D013653:Tattooing