A Cosmetic Surgical Approach Effectively Reconstructed Facial Nerve Paralysis.

In general, facial nerve palsy is treated by reconstructive surgeons, and the role of cosmetic surgeons is largely seen as secondary. The present report describes a case of refractory facial nerve palsy that arose after malignant parotid-tumor resection and high-dose radiotherapy, and that we reconstructed with a combination of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. The procedures consisted of facelift techniques (lateral SMASectomy, creation of a nasolabial fold with three suture loops anchored at the temporal fascia, and frontal lift), a new wrinkle-removing technique wherein the frontal-muscle function was disrupted, and excision of surplus skin to rejuvenate the face. The outcomes were good, including at 1 year after surgery, and the 71-year-old patient expressed considerable satisfaction. The frontalis muscle resection effectively removed the wrinkles, helped balance the left and right sides, and permitted anti-aging surgery. This procedure has permanent effects, unlike other methods (eg, botulinum-toxin injections) that serve to weaken facial muscle function. It is notable that despite the high-dose radiotherapy the patient had received and the resulting extensive subcutaneous-tissue adhesion, our surgical protocol was relatively easy to perform as well as highly effective. Thus, even static reconstruction can give great hope and satisfaction to patients with facial nerve palsy.

Management of secondary embolization that arose after intraarterial thrombolytic treatment of cosmetic facial filler-induced arterial occlusion.

Facial injections with cosmetic fillers can lead to local artery occlusion. The bilateral nasolabial folds of a 39-year-old woman were injected with hyaluronic acid at another hospital. After the righthand injection, the patient immediately felt pain that ran from the right nasolabial fold to the nasal alar. The injecting doctor suspected embolism due to intravascular misinjection and immediately injected hyaluronidase and vasodilator subcutaneously and intravenously, respectively. Five days later, the patient presented at our hospital with extensive endovascular embolization-related signs: along with some oral mucosa, the skin of the right nasolabial fold, right nasal alar, and right mouth corner exhibited necrosis. We diagnosed secondary peripheral embolus, and we used the treatment, namely, subcutaneously flooding/immersing the embolization site in the peripheral blood vessels with 2000 units of hyaluronidase.

Safety of Copolyamide Filler Injection for Breast Augmentation.

Although injections with copolyamide fillers (Aquafilling/Los Deline and Aqualift/Activegel) are currently used widely for breast augmentation, many complications have been reported. A recent position statement by a Korean aesthetic/reconstructive breast surgery society indicated these fillers are the same as polyacrylamide gel (PAAG), which is widely prohibited due to complications. To test this statement, this retrospective cohort study examined the clinical complications after breast augmentation with copolyamide fillers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of copolymer and PAAG fillers was also conducted. METHODS: All consecutive patients with concerns about or sequelae from copolyamide fillers who visited our hospital in 2018-2020 were identified. The injected formulation, complications, and intraoperative findings were recorded. Copolyamide fillers were compared with PAAG and 2 PAAG fillers (Amazingel and Aquamid) by NMR. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients (all women; average age, 42 years), 17 complained of breast deformity. Eight had puncture site infections and mammary gland inflammation. Five exhibited induration (single large/small lumps). In 4 cases, the filler had migrated outside of the breast, including to the back and vulva; these cases had severe symptoms. NMR showed that the copolyamide and PAAG fillers bore all of the characteristic peaks of PAAG. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical/intraoperative and NMR findings showed, respectively, that copolyamide fillers cause the same complications as PAAG fillers and have the same composition. Thus, the risks of copolyamide fillers for breast augmentation are equivalent to those for PAAG fillers. It is strongly recommended not to use copolyamide fillers until their long-term safety is established.

Comma-Shaped Incision for Reduction Mammoplasty and Mastopexy.

OBJECTIVE: Various skin incision methods have been reported for reduction mammoplasty and mastopexy. This report describes a new incision method that may improve on conventional methods, particularly with respect to prevention of hypertrophic scars. METHODS: We developed a comma-shaped incision method that results in fewer scars and less strain on the suture line. We then applied this new method to two cases, namely, one case of breast reduction and one case of breast fixation. RESULTS: In both cases, we achieved good results. There was no scar at the inframammary fold, and no hypertrophic scar formation. All scars were within the breast area and were not in contact with the brassiere wire; hence, there was less pain after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a new incision method for reduction mammoplasty and mastopexy.

Periauricular Keloids on Face-Lift Scars in a Patient with Facial Nerve Paralysis.

Keloids are caused by excessive scar formation that leads to scar growth beyond the initial scar boundaries. Keloid formation and progression is promoted by mechanical stress such as skin stretch force. Consequently, keloids rarely occur in paralyzed areas and areas with little skin tension, such as the periauricular region. Therefore, periauricular incision is commonly performed for face lifts. We report a rare case of keloids that arose from face-lift scars in a patient with bilateral facial nerve paralysis. A 51-year-old Japanese man presented with abnormal proliferative skin masses in bilateral periauricular scars. Seventeen years before, he had a cerebral infarction that resulted in permanent bilateral facial nerve paralysis. Three years before presentation, the patient underwent face-lift surgery with periauricular incisions. We diagnosed multiple keloids. We removed the masses surgically, closed the wounds with sutures in the superficial musculoaponeurotic system layer to reduce tension on the wound edges, reconstructed the earlobes with local skin flaps, and provided 2 consecutive days of radiotherapy. The wounds/scars were managed with steroid plasters and injections. Histology confirmed that the lesions were keloids. Ten months after surgery, the lesions did not exhibit marked regrowth. The keloids appeared to be caused by the patient's helmet, worn during his 3-hour daily motorcycle rides, which placed repeated tension on the periauricular area. This rare case illustrates how physical force contributes to auricular and periauricular keloid development and progression. It also shows that when performing surgery with periauricular incisions, care should be taken to eliminate wound/scar stretching.

Refractory leg ulcers associated with Klinefelter syndrome.

We present a man with refractory leg ulcers, bilateral varicosis of the lower extremities, and Buerger disease. Autoimmune work-up was negative. However, chromosome analysis showed Klinefelter syndrome (48 XXY). Ulcerative lesions of the lower extremities are a complication of Klinefelter syndrome. To date, the pathogenesis of ulcers in Klinefelter syndrome has not been clarified, but several factors, such as abnormalities of fibrinolysis and prothrombotic states, might be involved. Our present case emphasizes the importance of considering Klinefelter syndrome in the differential diagnosis of a male patient with nonhealing ulcers of the lower extremities.

Frontal musculocutaneous V-Y island flap for coverage of forehead defect with a dural exposure after craniotomy.

We have performed forehead reconstruction with a frontal musculocutaneous V-Y island flap to establish skin and soft-tissue coverage for a cranial bone defect with dural exposure. A 56-year-old woman who had previously undergone craniotomy for aneurysm clipping had a severe infection of the bone flap and subsequently underwent partial resection. The skin defect and the underlying dead space on the dura was successfully covered with a frontal musculocutaneous V-Y island flap without complications. Because this flap shows technical feasibility in harvesting, stable blood supply, functional preservation of frontal muscle, and good texture and color match, it may be an ideal flap for forehead and frontal reconstruction of defects of small or moderate size when primary closure, skin grafting, or transfer of local pedicled flaps or free flaps is impossible.