Unilateral Cleft Lip and Nasal Deformity: 8 Principles for Symmetrical Correction.

BACKGROUND

This article describes the first author's hybrid approach to unilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity repair, which has evolved from the Skoog, Millard, and Fisher techniques.

METHODS

Key differentiating technical surgical pearls are delineated, including drawings and video content.

RESULTS

The first author incorporates 2 triangular skin flaps from the lateral lip into releasing incisions in the medial lip element. Furthermore, this technique obviates the need for a columellar back-cut or a C-flap, as both create a scar that distorts the natural columellar-labial junction and the appearance of the footplate region. Instead, the technique described here creates a natural skin "apron" that flows from the columella over the footplate region laterally on both sides and smoothly and gradually onto the philtrum in the midline.

CONCLUSIONS

The first author highlights 8 surgical principles for symmetrical correction.