Hypoglossal nerve stimulation rescue surgery after multiple multilevel procedures for obstructive sleep apnea.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is a new procedure offered for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that has been shown to decrease the severity and symptoms of OSA in select patients. We report on a case of a patient with persistent symptoms and findings of OSA despite a history of multiple multilevel procedures, including an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with revision, a genioglossus advancement, and a maxillomandibular advancement. The patient then underwent HNS with significant improvement of his symptoms and severity. The success of this patient's HNS surgery demonstrates that we need to examine where HNS fits into the approach to surgery for OSA. There could be benefit to considering cranial nerve stimulation earlier than conventional approaches for select patients.

Comprehensive surgical aesthetic enhancement and rejuvenation of the perioral region.

There has been minimal attention paid in the literature to the aesthetics of the perioral area, either in youth or in senescence. Aging around the lips traditionally was thought to result from a combination of thinning skin surrounding the area, ptosis, and loss of volume in the lips. The atrophy of senescence was treated by adding volume to the lips and filling the deep nasolabial creases. There is now a growing appreciation for the role of volume enhancement in the perioral region and the sunken midface, as well as for dentition, in the resting and dynamic appearance of the perioral area (particularly in youth). In this article, the authors describe the senior author's (BG) preferred methods for aesthetic enhancement of the perioral region and his rejuvenative techniques developed over the past 28 years. The article describes the etiologies behind the dysmorphologies in this area and presents a problem-oriented algorithm for treating them.

Nose elongation: a review and description of the septal extension tongue-and-groove technique.

Several articles have been published about the short nose, many of which begin with a statement about the difficulty and complexity that this deformity poses for the rhinoplasty surgeon. Regardless of the challenges, many surgeons have undertaken the task of elongating the short nose and have subsequently shared with the rhinoplasty community the subtle techniques they have developed through their experience. The authors present a review of the literature that has contributed to the understanding of the etiology, evaluation, assessment, and operative procedures in the reconstruction of the short nose, specifically with regard to septal extension grafts. Additionally, the senior author's (BG) technique and experience of nearly 30 years of practice is described.

The frequency of surgical maneuvers during open rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The improved exposure afforded by the external rhinoplasty approach has allowed for more precise surgical maneuvers and makes more consistent results possible. This study examines the frequency and array of surgical maneuvers during primary aesthetic rhinoplasty in a single surgeon's practice. METHODS: A retrospective review of 100 consecutive primary external cosmetic rhinoplasty patients with a minimum follow-up of approximately 1 year was conducted. Surgical maneuvers were reviewed and tabulated. Special attention was devoted to the number of cartilage grafts and suturing techniques used. Operative times and incidence of revision surgery were investigated. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery was 1 hour 50 minutes. The majority of rhinoplasties involved concomitant septal surgery for deviation and airway occlusion or cartilage harvesting. Osteotomies were performed on over 95 percent of patients. The dorsal hump was removed on 84 percent of the patients. The most common grafts used included alar rim grafts in 88 percent, subdomal grafts in 77 percent, and spreader grafts in 74 percent. Sutures used to contour the cartilage included transdomal sutures in 62 percent, followed by footplate approximation sutures in 32 percent. Seventy-seven patients had interdomal sutures placed as a component of subdomal grafting. CONCLUSIONS: The senior surgeon has found that common incorporation of certain maneuvers offers more consistent, aesthetically pleasing, and superior functional outcomes. Careful review of this article may guide the reader to consider the more frequent use of some maneuvers or reduction of other maneuvers to reflect that of a streamlined and higher-volume rhinoplasty practice.

Alar base disharmonies.

The nasal base is often overlooked during the initial planning of rhinoplasty. Poor surgical planning or improper correction of alar base disharmonies can be irreversible and can have significant functional consequences. This article simplifies the recognition of common alar base disharmonies. The classification system is intended to facilitate choosing the best surgical technique to correct the alar base flaws.