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Upper Lip Research Paper

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Full-thickness defects of the upper lip Defects of up to one third of the upper lip, not including the majority of the philtral subunit, may be closed primarily without risk of significant tightening. Often this closure also requires a perialar excision and advancement. Meticulous realignment of the vermilion border is essential. Full-thickness defects that involve a majority of the philtral subunit are treated very effectively with replacement of the entire philtral subunit. An Abbe flap from the lower lip is ideal in reconstructing the central subunit, and depending on the size of the residual lateral subunit defects, these defects can often be closed with cheek advancement or rotational flaps carefully approximate to the Abbe flap. Precise …show more content…

48.20). Webster later modified this technique. In this procedure large cheek advancement flaps are designed with excess advanced skin oriented within the nasolabial folds superiorly and in the crease between the mentum and the cheek inferiorly. Advancement of buccal mucosa is necessary for creation of a new vermilion. Because denervation is necessary to advance the cheek musculature, a lack of motor function and sensitivity results, which limits quality in this type of tissue …show more content…

Oral hygiene should be maintained with antiseptic mouthwash, a diluted hydrogen peroxide rinse, or both. Routine surgical wound care includes regular cleaning of suture lines to minimize crust formation. Hydrogen peroxide solution is helpful for atraumatic removal of sutures. Cutaneous suture lines should be cared for in the typical postoperative fashion by routinely cleansing with 1:1 hydrogen peroxide and water mixture followed by the application of antibiotic ointment. Excess tension on the repair should be avoided. This includes minimizing talking, facial expressions, and consuming only small bites of food. Initially, a liquid or soft food diet may be necessary, while those with extensive reconstructions may require placement of feeding tubes. Steri-strips may be used to aid in the elimination of tension along the suture lines. Sutures may be removed as early as one week postoperatively. Cross-lip pedicles may be separated at three weeks. The timing of revision or staged surgeries (e.g. commissuroplasty) varies based on the complexity of the

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