Assessment of clinical and ultrasonographic parameters as indicators for buccal fat pad excision by esthetic reasons.

PURPOSE: The selection of candidates for buccal fat pad (BFP) removal depends on the patient's requirements, the subjective surgeons' evaluation, and objective clinical factors. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to identify objective clinical and ultrasonographic parameters as indicators of cheek contouring with BFP excision. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with cheek fullness complaints were examined by two experienced surgeons to determine if they were good candidates for the procedure. Thereafter, participants underwent clinical and ultrasonographic assessments in a separate session to aid in the surgical decision-making. The association between the clinical judgment for BFP excision and the study variables was analyzed individually and adjusted for confounders using binary logistic regression and grouping analyses. RESULTS: Forty-nine participants were regarded as suitable and 17 as non-suitable for the procedure. After regression analysis, cheek skin-fold thickness > 6.00 mm, midfacial contour > 2.20 mm, ovoid/triangular facial form, and ultrasonographic BFP volume > 2.05 mL remained as robust individual indicators for the suitability for the procedure. However, the grouping analysis showed that patients having three-to-four significant criteria synchronously had significantly higher odds for eligibility with excellent discrimination capability. CONCLUSION: Although high values of cheek skin-fold thickness, midfacial contour, and ultrasonographic BFP volume, as well as an ovoid/triangular facial form, might be robust indicators for the suitability for BFP excision, the surgical decision-making should not be based on isolated parameters. Instead, those patients possessing a combination of at least three of these specific eligibility criteria above the threshold value might be considered the best candidates for the procedure.

Evaluación radiográfica de aumentos de rebordes alveolares con injertos aloplásticos de hidroxiapatita no reabsorbible: seguimiento a nueve meses / Radiographic evaluation of alveolar ridge augmentation with non resorbable hydroxyapatite alloplastic grafts: nine months follow up

Introducción: el objetivo fue determinar radiográficamente el porcentaje de estabilidad de la altura del reborde alveolar del maxilar superior e inferior en pacientes sometidos a cirugía preprotésica de aumento de reborde con implante de HA no reabsorbible. Métodos: el estudio se realizó en quince pacientes, en quienes se determinaron mediciones reproducibles. Para el maxilar superior: (A) desde espina nasal anterior; (B derecha-izquierda) desde el borde más inferior de las fosas nasales; (C derecha- izquierda) desde el borde más inferior de la órbita. Para el maxilar inferior: (E) desde el borde inferior de la mandíbula y pasando por la sínfisis; (F derecha-izquierda) pasando por el agujero mentoniano; (G derecha-izquierda) pasando 5 mm. atrás del agujero mentoniano; (H derecha-izquierda) pasando 10 mm posterior al agujero mentoniano. Todas las mediciones se realizaron en el prequirúrgico, en el posquirúrgico inmediato, y a los nueve meses. Resultados: se promediaron los diferentes puntos del maxilar superior (PPMXS) y se observó una pérdida de altura entre el 6,29 y un 33,6% con promedio del 17,36 %. En el maxilar inferior (PPMXI) se observó una variación desde ganancia del 6,31% hasta una disminución del 18,87%, con promedio del 2,54%. Conclusiones: el implante de HA permite restablecer adecuada altura del reborde alveolar. La altura del reborde alveolar obtenida inicialmente presenta un porcentaje de disminución de su altura en el maxilar superior del 17,36%, y en el maxilar inferior del 2,54 durante el seguimiento a nueve meses.

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to determine radiographically the percentage of stability of alveolar ridge height in the maxilla and the mandible in patients subjected to pre prosthetic surgery of ridge augmentation with non resorbable HA implants. Methods: the study was performed in 15 patients in whom reproducible measurements were taken. For the maxilla: (A) From Anterior Nasal Spine; (B right and left) from the lowest border of the nasal fossae; (C right and left) from the lowest border of the orbit. For the mandible: (E) from the lowest border of the mandible passing through symphysis; (F right and left) passing through the mental foramen; (G right and left) passing 5 mm posterior to the mental foramen; (H right and left) passing 10 mm posterior to mental foramen. All measurements were performed before surgery, immediately after and nine months after surgery. Results: the different points of the maxilla were averaged (PPMXS) and a height loss between 6.29% and 33.6% was observed, with an average of 17.36%. For the mandible (PPMXL) variations ranging from 6.31% of augmentation to 18.8% loss were observed, with an average of 2.54%. Conclusions: HA implants allow reestablishment of adequate alveolar ridge height. The alveolar ridge height initially obtained presents a decrease percentage in height for the maxilla of 17.36% and 2.54% for the mandible after nine months follow up.