Ningbei Yin

Vertical prolabial deficiency is a common issue among a significant number of secondary bilateral cleft lip patients. Historically, the Abbé flap has been utilized to augment the volume of prolabial soft tissue. This article introduces an innovative surgical approach for prolabial lengthening through the reconstruction of the nasolabial muscle. From December 2017 to January 2023, 65 secondary bilateral cleft lip patients presenting with vertical prolabial deficiency underwent this novel surgical procedure. The nasolabial muscle was meticulously reconstructed and lengthened. The measurements were taken for the length of the philtrum, vermilion, and the lower facial region. Patient satisfaction regarding the labial morphology was assessed using a structured questionnaire. The average philtrum length was 9.8 ± 2.2 mm preoperatively, which significantly increased to 13.5 ± 1.3 mm immediately post-surgery (P < 0.05). The average ratio of prolabial length to lower facial length was 0.32 ± 0.03 preoperatively, improving to 0.40 ± 0.04 postoperatively, with a follow-up period ranging from 6 months to 3 years (P < 0.05). The surgical technique described effectively lengthens the prolabium, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appearance of secondary bilateral cleft lip patients with vertical prolabial deficiency. This journal requires that authors 33 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 34 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 35 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 36 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Background: In recent years, the use of facial soft tissue fillers via cosmetic injections has steadily increased, along with the incidence of adverse events caused by injection vascular occlusion. We aimed to three-dimensionally visualize the anastomosis between facial soft tissue and the vascular system to enhance the safety and effectiveness of facial injections. A cadaver model was used to visualize facial anatomy. A red gelatin–lead oxide contrast agent was perfused to visualize the blood vessels, while 3.75% iodine-potassium iodide was used to stain the soft tissues. Micro-computed tomography scanning was then performed to capture detailed imaging results. Results: We successfully visualized both facial soft tissues and blood vessels simultaneously, including the two-dimensional distribution of vascular tissues and the three-dimensional hierarchical structure of the soft tissue. This allowed accurate assessment of the vascular flow and interconnections in the facial region. Conclusions: This study provides a detailed three-dimensional representation of the facial vascular anatomy, particularly in the periocular area. By clarifying facial vascular anastomoses, this technique offers a valuable reference for promoting safer and more effective filler injections and reducing the risk of injection-related complications. Providing an interactive, high-resolution vascular dataset of a specific developmental stage. Promoting safe and effective injection of fillers provides a more reliable reference for reducing complications caused by injections.

Introduction: The anatomy of the arterial branches in the upper lip and their relationships to soft tissue are not well described in the literature. The purpose of this study was to explore a method for visualizing the microvessels and soft tissue three‐dimensionally to gain better understanding of the upper lip blood supply.Materials and Methods: Seventeen stillborn fetuses were injected with lead oxide–gelatin and stained with iodine. Thirty‐four half upper lip specimens were obtained and scanned by micro‐computed tomography. The images were then examined and Inveon analysis software was used for three‐dimensional reconstructions.Results: The main supplies to the upper lip were from the superior labial and inferior alar arteries. In some cases, the infraorbital and lateral nasal arteries also branched off to the upper lip. The anatomical variations were classified into six types on the basis of the observed vascular composition patterns. The skin was supplied by the subcutaneous vascular network, formed by the superficial ascending branches of the superior labial and inferior alar arteries. The mucosa was supplied by the submucosal vascular network, formed by the deep ascending branches of the superior labial artery and the labial branches of the infraorbital artery. The muscles were supplied by small vertical branches from the subcutaneous and submucosal vascular networks.Conclusion: This study provides new anatomical insight into the upper lip by describing the microvessels and the relationship between the arteries and the soft tissue involved. This is important information for clinical applications in upper lip plastic surgery.