• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2018

Post-traumatic scar deformations are common in many skin injury cases. These are usually aesthetic problems, but if these deformations impair mobility and the patient feels uncomfortable, we must resolve them. In a patient with a lateral post-traumatic scar fold in the lateral canthus that shortened the horizontal orbital fissure and created traction on eye opening, we performed modified classic Z-plasty, resulting in aesthetic and functional improvements without recurrence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2002

We present a case of nasopharyngeal stenosis which developed after adenotonsillectomy. A 11-year-old boy underwent adenotonsillectomy because of snoring at a local clinic using a $CO_2$ LASER. After the operation, he cannot breathe via nose due to severe cicatrical nasopharyngeal stenosis. Nasopharyngeal stenosis and oropharyngeal stenosis are rare and challenging problems in the pediatric population. The most common etiology is currently the surgical trauma associated with adenotonsillectomy. Stenosis can vary from a thin band to a complete obstructing cicatrix. Presenting symptoms range from mild hyponasal speech to severe airway obstruction. We treated the patient with velopharyngoplasty using two separate rotational mucosal flaps.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

Nasopharyngeal stenosis is an obliteration of the normal communication between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx resulting from the fusion of the tonsillar pillars and soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal wall. It is a rare but serious problem. The most common etiology is currently the surgical trauma associated with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or adenotonsillectomy. It can range in severity from a thin band to a complete obstructing cicatrix, Symptoms vary from mild hyponasal speech to almost complete nasal obstruction with oral breathing, We present a case of a 16 year-old male with nasopharyngeal stenosis after radiofrequency-assisted adenoidectomy in this paper. This patient was managed by synechiolysis, obturator and buccal mucosal graft.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.671-673
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• 2005

Difficulties with intraoperative fixation of hair or eyebrow sometimes occur because of displacement or dislodgment of hair during surgery. So we have found that the simple application of a small transparent adhesive disposable dressing, such as $Tegaderm^{(R)}$ or OpSite $Flexigrid^{(R)}$, can prevent this. One of the advantages of this technique, compared with stapler fixation of the hair, is that it does not cause local trauma. An OpSite $Flexigrid^{(R)}$ or $Tegaderm^{(R)}$ is placed such that it covers both the scar and operation site hair. The hair or eyebrow were easily, quickly, and firmly positioned even on the nonshaved scalp. The technique seems to have no drawbacks, and when the $Tegaderm^{(R)}$ or Opsite $Flexigrid^{(R)}$ is removed, patient experiences little discomfort. We have never seen an allergic or direct traumatic cutaneous response following the use of these materials.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.223-225
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• 2015

The closure of any circular or asymmetric wound can result in puckering or an excess of tissue known as a 'dog ear'. Understanding the mechanism of dog ear formation is a fundamental requirement necessary to facilitate an appropriate treatment. Many solutions have been reported in the literature, but in all cases, the correction entails the extension of the scar and the sacrifice of the dermal plexus. Here, we propose a novel technique of dog ear correction by using a three-bite suture that sequentially pierces the deep fascial plane and each dog ear's margin, thus allowing for flattening the dog ear by anchoring the over-projecting tissue to the deep plane. The three-bite technique proved to be a fast, easy, and versatile method of immediate dog ear correction without extending the scar, while maintaining a full and complete local skin blood supply.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.570-574
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• 2013

Background The elliptical excision is the standard method of removing benign skin lesions, such as congenital melanocytic nevi. This technique allows for primary closure, with little to no dog-ear deformity, but may sacrifice normal tissue adjacent to the lesion, resulting in scars which are unnecessarily long. This study was designed to compare the predicted results of elliptical excision with those resulting from our excision technique. Methods Eighty-two patients with congenital melanocytic nevus on the face were prospectively studied. Each lesion was examined and an optimal ellipse was designed and marked on the skin. After an incision on one side of the nevus margin, subcutaneous undermining was performed in the appropriate direction. The skin flap was pulled up and approximated along several vectors to minimize the occurrence of dog-ear deformity. Results Overall, the final wound length was 21.1% shorter than that achieved by elliptical excision. Only 8.5% of the patients required dog-ear repair. There was no significant distortion of critical facial structures. All of the scars were deemed aesthetically acceptable based on their Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scores. Conclusions When compared to elliptical excision, our technique appears to minimize dogear deformity and decrease the final wound length. This technique should be considered an alternative method for excision of facial nevi.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.184-187
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• 2020

Scalp reconstruction is challenging because the scalp is inelastic, stiff, and has hair follicles. Tissue expansion offers aesthetically pleasing outcomes with minimal donor-site morbidity. However, in a scarred scalp, the extent of possible dissection for the expander insertion may be limited and surgeons must make use of the limited scalp tissue. We successfully reconstructed scarred scalps using rectangular expanders. This report presents two cases: a 4×3 cm chronic defect with widespread scarring and osteomyelitis and an 11×7.5 cm scar tissue following a skin graft. Tissue expanders were inserted in the subgaleal plane and were inflated by 195 mL and 400 mL over periods of 2 and 3 months, respectively. Subgaleal elevation of a fasciocutaneous flap was achieved with the expanded tissue. The defects were well covered, with good color, texture, and hair-bearing tissue. There were no complications involving the tissue expanders. Rectangular expanders yield more available tissue than round or crescent-shaped expanders. Moreover, since the base of the flap is well defined, the expander can be easily inserted in a limited space. Therefore, rectangular expanders are recommended for the reconstruction of scarred scalps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2014

Analysis of scars in various conditions is essential, but no consensus had been reached on the scar assessment scale to select for a given condition. We reviewed papers to determine the scar assessment scale selected depending on the scar condition and treatment method. We searched PubMed for articles published since 2000 with the contents of the scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale with a Journal Citation Report impact factor >0.5. Among them, 96 articles that conducted a scar evaluation using a scar assessment scale were reviewed and analyzed. The scar assessment scales were identified and organized by various criteria. Among the types of scar assessment scales, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was found to be the most frequently used scale. As for the assessment of newly developed operative scars, the POSAS was most used. Meanwhile, for categories depending on the treatment methods for preexisting scars, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used in 6 studies following a laser treatment, the POSAS was used in 7 studies following surgical treatment, and the POSAS was used in 7 studies following a conservative treatment. Within the 12 categories of scar status, the VSS showed the highest frequency in 6 categories and the POSAS showed the highest frequency in the other 6 categories. According to our reviews, the POSAS and VSS are the most frequently used scar assessment scales. In the future, an optimal, universal scar scoring system is needed in order to better evaluate and treat pathologic scarring.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2017

Background In treating minor-form or microform cleft lip, obtaining an optimal result is a challenge because of the visible scarring caused by traditional surgery. We present a refined method using muscle overlapping with a minimal skin incision in patients younger than 3 years, a group characterized by thin muscle. Methods The surgical technique involves restoration of the notched vermillion using Z-plasty, formation of the philtral column using overlapping of an orbicularis oris muscle flap through an intraoral incision, and correction of the cleft lip nasal deformity using a reverse-U incision and V-Y plasty. A single radiologist evaluated ultrasonographic images of the upper lip. Results Sixty patients were treated between September 2008 and June 2014. The age at the time of operation ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean, 26 months). The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 38 months (mean, 20 months) in minor-form cases and from 14 to 64 months (mean, 37 months) in microform cases. A notched cupid's bow was corrected in 10 minor-form cases and 50 microform cases. Ultrasonographic images were obtained from 3 patients with minor-form cleft lip and 9 patients with microform cleft lip 12 months after surgery. The average muscle thickness was 4.5 mm on the affected side and 4.1 mm on the unaffected side. Conclusions The advantages of the proposed procedure include the creation of an anatomically natural philtrum with minimal scarring. This method also preserves the continuity and function of the muscle and provides sufficient augmentation of the philtral column and nostril sill.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2016

Background Open thyroidectomy is conventionally performed at the anterior side of neck, which is a body part with a comparatively great degree of open exposure; due to this, postoperative scarring may cause distress in patients. We aimed to compare the effects of ablative and nonablative fractional laser treatments on thyroidectomy scars. We examined medical records in a retrospective manner and analyzed scars based on their digital images by using the modified Manchester Scar Scale (mMSS). Methods Between February 2012 and May 2013, 55 patients with thyroidectomy scars were treated with ablative (34 patients) or nonablative (21 patients) fractional laser. Each patient underwent 4 laser treatment sessions in 3-4 week intervals, 1-2 months postoperatively. Scar improvement was assessed using patient images and the mMSS scale. Results The mean decrease in scar score was 3.91 and 3.47 in the ablative and nonablative groups, respectively; the reduction between 2 groups did not exhibit any significant difference (P=0.16). We used the scale once again to individually evaluate scar attributes. The nonablative group accounted for a considerably higher color score value (P=0.03); the ablative group accounted for a considerably higher contour score value (P<0.01). Patient satisfaction was high and no complications occurred. Conclusions Both types of fractional laser treatments can be used successfully for thyroidectomy scar treatment with minimal complications; however, results indicate that higher effectiveness may be obtained from the use of ablative and nonablative lasers for hypertrophic scars and early erythematous scars, respectively. Therefore, the appropriate laser for scar treatment should be selected according to its specific characteristics.