title: Correction of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity using nasal alar rim flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to show the use and effectiveness of nasal alar rim flap on the correction of unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients (age range, 10-29 years; mean, 15.1 years; 14 male and 17 female patients) with unilateral cleft lip underwent rhinoplasty surgery using alar rim flap. The excessive skin of nasal alar was marked, then a skin flap was raised. This flap can be transferred medially (type 1) or laterally (type 2) to narrow the nostril or to augment the nasal sill and, of course, to correct the alar web deformity. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were measured for photogrammetric analysis in 16 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alar rim flap used in patients with unilateral cleft lip made the nostrils more symmetrical. The nostril sill was augmented with flap type 1. The alar base width was narrowed with flap type 2 (P = 0.03). The alar web deformity was corrected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alar rim flap could be an ideal treatment option for correction of alar web deformity in patients of unilateral cleft lip.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome