Surgical correction of upper lip deficit in patients with cleft lip using dermis fat graft.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess dermis fat graft (DFG) as a choice to correct the tissue deficit in the free border of the upper lip in cleft lip repair surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five individuals who referred to Alzahra Hospital at 2013-2014, with lip deformity following the primary repair surgery of cleft lip underwent surgery by DFG technique. Outcomes were assessed 4 months after the surgery based on comparison of preoperative and postoperative photographs.

RESULTS: The results in 18 (51.42%) patients were excellent, 10 (28.57%) good, and 7 (20%) intermediate according to the satisfaction of patients and investigators in terms of filling of lip deficit and motion of the upper lip. Moreover, complications and pain were minimal after 4-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION: This method introduces an admissible method with 80% good to excellent results based on satisfactory of patients and surgeon.