Nasal sill flap for lip lifting

Background: Over the years, different techniques have been developed to reduce the number of incisions and scars in subnasal lip lifting and to increase the amount of lifting. The aim of this study was to present a new technique to hide the scars at the nasal base in subnasal lip lifting procedures and to review the literature.

Methods: The file of patients who underwent subnasal lip lifting between January 2019 and January 2021 were examined. In all patients, the nasal sill flap that was designed was elevated, and the nasal sill flap that was prepared was adapted to its new location when the excision had been completed. Two different plastic surgeons evaluated the patients in the postoperative 12-month follow-ups. The scars were evaluated for vascularity, pigmentation, elasticity, thickness, and height.

Results: The study included 26 patients. While 21 patients had no histories of lip lifting, five patients had had previous lip lifting history. The mean operation time was 37.11 minutes. Patients’ skin types were determined as Type 3 in 18 patients and Type 4 in eight patients according to the Fitzpatrick classification. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 13.11 months. At the end of the 12-month period, the mean scar score of the patients was calculated as 11.15. The mean scar score of primary cases was 11.14, and the mean scar score of secondary cases was 11.20 (p = 0.983). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of complications among smokers (p = 0.356). The mean scar score was calculated as 12.17 in patients who had Type 3 skin and 8.88 in patients with Type 4 skin (p = 0.075).

Conclusions: This technique is beneficial for patients because the scars are discrete and easier for patients to accept.