Correction of Depressed Nasal Base and Piriform Aperture Using Polyethylene Implants

ABSTRACT

Lower midface concavity due to depressed nasal base and pyriform aperture may be aesthetically displeasing. A relative deficiency in lower midface projection may be congenital or acquired, particularly after cleft surgery and trauma. People with normal occlusion associated with lower midface concavity due to depressed nasal base and pyriform aperture can be corrected with an autologous bone graft or artificial implants. The authors performed paranasal augmentation with an alloplastic implants using a porous polyethylene implants(Medpor(R)) on 430 patients who had visited authors' hospital for aesthetic correction of lower midface contour from January 2000 to June 2009. 425 patients were satisfied with the outcome, which gave them a natural contour. Complications such as dislocation, displacement, infection and extrusion were not observed. Only five patients had their implants removed due to displeasing and foreign body sensations. Alloplastic augmentation in the paranasal area is a very easy procedure and can simulate the visual effect as that of maxillary advancement osteotomy. Paranasal augmentation using a porous polyethylene implants(Medpor(R)) in patients having lower midface concavity with normal occlusion can contribute to the enhancement of the lower midface contour.