Nasolabial changes after maxillary advancement.

BACKGROUND

Improving facial aesthetics has been shown to be a strong motivating factor in patients who decide to undergo orthognathic surgery. The nasolabial region is a keystone of facial aesthetics and thus is of central importance in planning and execution of orthognathic surgery. This article was performed to study modifications of nasolabial area after maxillary advancement.

METHODS

Forty-two patients undergoing orthognathic surgery were considered. In those patients, after Le Fort I osteotomy, only maxillary advancement was performed.

RESULTS

For each patient, several points in the nasolabial area were marked, and the distances between these landmarks were measured before and 6 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of this study show a general trend in the widening of the alar base with an associated shortening of the columellar length and lengthening of the base of the nose.