Summary
In unilateral cleft lip, there is always a deficiency of vermilion on the medial side
of the cleft, which can be augmented by techniques using excess vermilion from the
lateral side of the cleft, like the use of a simple V-advancement flap. We developed
a modification of Noordhoff's lateral vermilion flap that preserves the parallel relationship
of the muco-vermilion line and the white roll but improves results in unilateral cleft
lip patients. In a study of 30 patients undergoing surgical repair of complete unilateral
cleft lip, we found that this method offers a superior alternative to the straight-line
repair. This geometrically sound technique for vermilion reconstruction offers the
cleft surgeon a simple and effective method for augmenting total lip height and creating
a normal appearing Cupid's bow.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 15, 2006
Accepted:
November 27,
2005
Received:
July 31,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
