free flap for contouring ; soft tissue ; face contouring
Abstract
In general, soft tissue contour restoration is accompanying with cranio-maxillo-facial surgery. This is particularly true in congenital cases as hemifacial microsomia. Exceptions to this sequence is when there are either unsuitable beds to perform a skeletal surgery, or extreme deficiencies of soft tissue precludes underlying skeletal work. Sometimes, however, soft tissue contouring alone could satisfy the esthetic goal unless there is severe bony deformity or functional disturbance.
Many different modialities have been used in correcting facial contours. During recent 2 years authors have experienced 13 patients requiring facial contouring with soft tissues alone. The surgical corrections of facial contour with soft tissue alone are as follows.
Injectable materials such as fat or collagen were used for small lesions. Nonvascularized composite graft such as dermis-fat graft was also employed for deformities of lesser magnitude. In cases of larger defect, vascularized tissues were used in the form of microvascular flaps(omental free flap, deepithelialized parascapular free flap). For reduction of soft tissue, we used liposuction or open dissection, and in one case combined procedure.