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Study Design: Technical note. Objective: The lower nasal architecture is dependent on caudal septal integrity. Deviations of the caudal septum can compromise nasal airflow. The presence of anterior nasal spine deviations contributes to septal and medial crural shifting with ipsilateral encroachment. It is essential to identify nasal spine deviation during surgery in order to reconstruct the septum in a midline position at its base. This allows an appropriate management plan that creates a better functional and aesthetically pleasing outcome. A stable midline anterior nasal spine is warranted to support the newly reconstructed straight caudal strut, which can be effectively corrected by anterior septal reconstruction. Methods: The proposed method intends to combine anterior nasal spine centralization with correcting caudal septal deviation and nasal obstruction through a modified extracorporeal septoplasty technique. We describe a novel technique to centralize the deviated anterior nasal spine using the piezoelectric device by performing a contralateral adjacent ostectomy and en-bloc relocation and fixation of the anterior nasal spine with microplates and screws. Results: This surgical approach creates a stable caudal septum and a centrally positioned anterior nasal spine, which improves nasal airflow and ensures a stable repair. Conclusion: Sliding spine relocation surgery with anterior septal reconstruction repositions a deviated anterior nasal spine and corrects caudal septum deviation, that can impair the nasal airway., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objective: To compare the scar outcomes of two common incisions (inverted V and stair step) by using a validated scar-outcome instrument via a randomized clinical trial., Methods: Fifty-eight consecutive cases of external rhinoplasty were randomly divided into two groups according to the type of incision. These patients were followed-up for 1 year, and the columellar scar was analyzed by using the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores by an independent reviewer., Results: Of 58 patients, 28 received the inverted V and the rest received the stair-step incision. Thirty-four participants (58.6%) were women. The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 26.2 ± 6.6 years. After 1 month, the scar outcome was significantly better in patients with the stair-step incision (p = 0.001) by using the SBSES, but the same was not true after 1 year (p = 0.425). However, when the VAS instead of the SBSES was used to evaluate the scar, the inverted V received a better score after 12 months in this series (p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Despite the better aesthetic outcome of the stair-step incision in the first month after the surgery, there was no significant difference between the two incisions after 1 year. However, in this series, when the VAS instead of the SBSES was used to evaluate the scar, the inverted V received a better score after 12 months.

Background: Internal nasal valve collapse is a preventable complication of rhinoplasty, for which the spreader graft is the gold standard. More recently, the spreader flap technique has been espoused as an alternative to spreader grafting. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of this technique in a randomized trial setting., Methods: The autospreader was used in 32 patients who were candidates for primary rhinoplasty; 34 who did not undergo a spreader flap procedure were recruited as a control group. Acoustic rhinometry was used in every patient preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Average volume and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) of the nose and findings were collected. Also, the pre- and postoperative patients' subjective assessment about their satisfaction from their appearance and nasal obstruction were evaluated according to visual analog scale (VAS)., Results: Among the study group patients, 46 (69.7%) were female and 20 (30.3%) were male subjects. Their mean age was 50/5 ± 6/24 years. The difference in MCA in the control group was -0.1 and +0.6 (on right and left sides, respectively), and in the spreader flap group it was -0.03 and +0.05, which showed an increase in MCA in the left side and a decrease in the opposite side of both groups. However, their difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.50). Also, the differences between preoperative and postoperative VAS were not significant in either nasal obstruction (p = 0.68) and cosmetic satisfaction (p = 0.38)., Conclusion: Spreader flap is an attractive technique in preserving the middle vault in nasal plastic surgery. However, its effect needs more evaluation.

This study was designed to validate a grading scheme for lateral nasal wall insufficiency with interrater and intrarater reliability measures. Representative endoscopic videos depicting varied degrees of lateral nasal wall insufficiency were collated into a 30-clip video (15 clips in duplicate). This was rated by five reviewers for a total of 150 observations. Interrater and intrarater reliability were determined using Fleiss kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) statistics, respectively. Good agreement was established between reviewers (interrater reliability), with a Fleiss kappa of 0.7733 (p < 0.01). Analysis of intrarater variability with the ICC revealed a very strong agreement (ICC = 0.88; p < 0.01). The proposed grading system is shown to have good interrater and intrarater reliability. It provides a reliable instrument for assessing lateral wall insufficiency.

Objective To evaluate how malar fat pad (MFP) volumes vary with age, after controlling for gender and body mass index (BMI). Study Design A prospective case-control study evaluating volume of the MFP in women of two age groups. Methods Soft tissue dimensions were measured in eight subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. A multiplanar localizing sequence, followed in sagittal and coronal orientations using a turbo spin echo sequence, was performed to define the MFP. Volumetric calculations were then performed using a 3D image analysis application (Dextroscope, Volume Interactions, Republic of Singapore) to circumscribe areas, orient dimensions, and calculate volumes of the MFP. Results These data reveal no significant difference in the mean (standard deviation) right MFP (p = 0.50), left MFP (p = 0.41), or total MFP (p = 0.45) volumes when comparing the two age groups. In addition, these data indicate that there was no correlation between age and total MFP volume (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.27). Moreover, there was no correlation between age and the ratio of total volume/BMI (Pearson correlation coefficient -0.18). Conclusions Although the sample size of this study was small, these data indicate that ptosis of midfacial fat is more important than volume loss in midfacial aging. These data would suggest repositioning as the primary modality for craniofacial reconstruction.

This study was designed to measure the efficacy of a nasal valve suspension technique and determine the adequate traction length without creation of nasofacial fullness in a cadaveric model. Seven fresh frozen cadaveric heads were evaluated. Minimal cross-sectional (MCA) areas were measured with a transient-signal acoustic rhinometer (Ecco Vision; Hood Instruments, Pembroke, MA) before and after suspension. The adequate traction length, which did not cause obvious changes, was determined. Five millimeters of lateral nasal valve traction was determined to be the maximal traction achievable without creating facial fullness. After lateral nasal suspension, average MCA increased by 13.7%. Average distance to the MCA from the nostril changed from 1.57 to 1.76 cm. Postsuspension values were significantly higher than the presuspension values (p < 0.05). Nasal valve suspension with 5 mm of lateral traction has a significant impact on nasal valve area without obvious nasofacial changes.

Zygomatic-maxillary (ZMC) complex fractures are a common consequence of facial trauma. In this retrospective study, we present a novel method of ZMC fracture pattern analysis, utilizing three-dimensional visualization of computed tomography (CT) images to record displacement of the malar eminence in a three-dimensional coordinate plane. The pattern of fracture was then correlated with treatment outcome. Facial CT scans were obtained from 29 patients with unilateral ZMC fractures and 30 subjects without fractures and analyzed. Briefly, displacement of the malar eminence (ME) on the fractured side was measured in medial-lateral (x), superior-inferior (y), and anterior-posterior (z) dimensions, as well as Euclidean distance, by comparison to ME location on the unfractured side. Baseline natural variance in asymmetry was accounted for by comparing ME location on the left and right sides in subjects without fractures. Patients who required open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to repair the ZMC fracture alone had significantly greater cumulative ME displacements than patients who did not require ORIF (p = 0.02). Additionally, patients with a high fracture score of 3, 4, or 5 (assigned based on severity displacement in each dimension) had significantly higher rates of ORIF than patients with a low fracture score of 0, 1, or 2 (p = 0.05). Severe displacement in one or more dimensions was associated with higher rates of ORIF than seen in patients with only neutral or mild displacements in all dimensions (p = 0.05). Severe x displacement was most strongly correlated with surgical intervention (p = 0.02). Overall, orbital floor repair was less strongly associated with most displacement measures than ZMC repair alone; however, patients requiring orbital floor repair had greater Euclidean ME displacements than patients who did not require orbital floor repair (p = 0.02). Fracture severity, as determined by multiple parameters in this novel evaluation system, is associated with higher rates of ORIF in patients with unilateral ZMC fractures. Determination of ZMC fracture pattern may thus be informative when considering treatment options.

Age-related changes in the structure of the nose can obstruct the nasal airway and adversely affect quality of life. Several procedures are available to restore the patency of the airway, but not all are appropriate for all patients. Also, long-term outcomes data on such procedures are lacking. We describe our use of a rhinolift procedure with local anesthesia to correct nasal obstruction caused by nasal tip ptosis in 2 elderly men. In both cases, the procedure resulted in a complete or near-complete resolution of obstructive symptoms. We also conducted long-term follow-up of these 2 patients. Both experienced a recurrence of symptoms 1 to 2 years postoperatively. We conclude that the rhinolift procedure we describe is safe and effective for the short-term relief of age-related nasal obstruction in selected patients.

Background: Distortion of the philtrum, which lends considerable symmetry to the midface, leads to a poor esthetic outcome., Objective: This case series describes reconstructive approaches to six philtral defects after Mohs micrographic surgery. Reconstructive approaches including advancement flaps, full-thickness skin grafts, and second-intention healing are illustrated. Postoperative complications included graft hypertrophy, irregularity of the graft surface, graft color mismatch, tenderness, and slight eclabium, which improved with dermabrasion or intralesional triamcinolone., Conclusion: The reasonable success of full-thickness skin grafts demonstrated here provides an additional approach to philtral repairs, especially when combined with traditional advancement flaps.