A NEW PROCEDURE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE PTOTIC MELOLABIAL FOLD

Objective: To demonstrate a new surgical technique for improving the p totic melolabial fold. Design: Case series. Setting: University medica l center. Patients: Consecutive sample of 8 patients with ptotic melol abial folds. Intervention: Preoperative and postoperative analysis eva luating surgical intervention. Surgical treatment of the ptotic melola bial fold consists of steps: removal of ptotic adipose tissue, excisio n of a crescent-shaped segment of skin along the nasoalar crease, and detachment of the dermal-connective tissue attachments. Main Outcome M easures: Evaluation of the improvement of the ptotic melolabial folds and correlation with concomitant aesthetic surgical procedures. Conclu sions: Early results demonstrated improvement in the ptotic melolabial fold. Patients were pleased with the procedure, rating improvement as fair to good. The surgeons' evaluation correlated well with the patie nts' evaluation.