Correction of Drooping Mouth Corner due to Cheek Mass by Suspension with Nasolabial Dermal Flap

ABSTRACT

Benign tumor in the cheek area such as hemangioma, lymphangioma and neurofibroma causes the drooping of affected side soft tissue involving cheek, mouth corner and nasolabial fold due to its heavy weight and bulkiness. The drooping of mouth corner may remain even after partial subcutaneous excision of the mass. The authors suspended the drooped mouth corner with dermal flap which could be elevated through the nasolabial fusiform de-epithelization simultaneously while the mass was removed by the incision. A total of 14 patients with hemangioma, lymphangioma and neurofibroma in the cheek area were operated between February 1998 and November 2001. The age distribution was 5 to 21-years-old and the follow-up period ranged from 5 to 37 months. There were 1 case of epidermal inclusion cyst and 1 case of hematoma, but no infection or facial nerve palsy was reported as complication. The aesthetic results were considered favorable. This technique prevents the drooping of mouth corner or asymmetry of mid-face without remaining any significant deformity at the donor site, and helps to make more normalized facial feature after the removal of soft tissue mass in the cheek.