Restoration of the Age Elongated Auricular Lobe.

BACKGROUND: The ears increase in all dimensions over the years (eg, length, helix diameter, lobe length), but the most obvious change is the elongation or ptosis of the lobe. Its correction should be considered a part of facial rejuvenation. OBJECTIVES: The authors presented the surgical procedure they have been utilizing to correct elongated earlobes. METHODS: The authors described a simple and effective procedure consisting of the curved resection of the excess tissue of the lobe at its lower end and its reconstruction through the utilization of 2 triangular flaps of skin, taken from the lateral surface of the lobe, rotated backwards, and sutured to the medial surface, leaving a zigzag hidden scar. RESULTS: The authors have utilized this surgical procedure over the last 16 years to correct ptosis of the earlobe as well as some of its other alterations due to aging. The results obtained are presented as well as the classification that the authors have utilized to qualify their degree of ptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure has yielded excellent results, with imperceptible scars, and is therefore very pleasing to patients and surgeon alike.

Bite force and electromyographic activity of the masseter muscle in children with hemifacial microsomia.

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a malformation characterized by asymmetric facial growth with mandibular and muscular involvement. There are no reports focused on the functional status of the masticatory system of patients with HFM. The objective of this work evaluate bite force and electrical activity of masseter muscle in children with HFM, and compare them to healthy controls. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare bite force and electrical activity of masseter muscle between subjects with HFM and healthy children. Mean bite force (MBF) and surface electromyography (EMG) on maximum intercuspation (MIC) and rest position (RP) from both sides of the face were recorded. Comparative statistics between HFM patients and controls were performed using the Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used to compare the microsomic and healthy hemifaces. Twenty children with HFM and 10 controls were included, average age was 7.2 years (range 3-14). MBF did not show statistical significance between both groups. Surface EMG signal at MIC was significantly diminished when compared to the healthy side (p = .003) and to the control group (p = .016), this significance was also present at RP when comparing the affected and non-affected sides of the face (p < .01) but not against the controls (p = .08). This study showed that patients with HFM had diminished EMG values of the masseter muscle on the affected side, compared to healthy individuals, but bite force did not show significant alterations.