• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.543-547
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• 2007

The lips and corners of the mouth are not only important for appearance but are also essential for facial expression, speech, and nutrition. Defects in these areas can be caused by congenital clefts of the lip and face, trauma, infection, cysts, and excision of benign or malignant tumors. Numerous techniques have been introduced for reconstruction of the lips and corners of the mouth, and in particular, techniques such as the Kazanjian Roopenian I and II, Converse method, Zisser method, Platz and Wepner method. Gillies and Millard method are commonly utilized for elongation and reconstruction of the mouth corner. Few reports exist in the oral and maxillofacial surgery literature regarding correction of microsomia and reconstruction of the corners of the mouth. As such, the authors report a case of the corners of the mouth elongation in a patient with burn-induced microstomia using the Converse flap which yielded a satisfactory outcome.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.380-385
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• 2008

Microstomia can be occurred as a result of direct injury to tissues such as chemical, thermal and electrical burns, and animal bites. It also may be secondary to contracture of burned perioral skin, or may result from scarring after reconstructive lip surgery. Narrowing of the oral aperture is not only disfiguring, but also limiting the oral access needed for introduction of food, insertion of dentures, oral hygiene, and dental treatment. Limited mouth opening may also interfere with mastication and speech. Few reports exist regarding correction of microstomia and reconstruction of the corners of the mouth. A 16-year-old girl with a bilateral cleft lip and palate presented with the limited mouth opening (approximately 20 mm), the esthetic problem due to the small lip, and the cleft lip-nasal deformity. The microstomia was corrected by bilateral commissuroplasty using "over and out" buccal mucosa flaps proposed by Converse. The intercommissure distance was increased from the preoperative 40 mm to the postoperative 60 mm. The one-year postoperative intercommissure distance was 54 mm, because the 6 mm relapse was occurred. The bilateral commissuroplasty using "over and out" buccal mucosa flap could increase the width and general size of the oral aperture and improve the lip appearance.