MICROLIPOINJECTION FOR THE ELEVATION OF DEPRESSED FULL-THICKNESS SKIN-GRAFTS ON THE NOSE

BACKGROUND: Full-thickness skin grafts on the dorsum of the nose may heal depressed and might benefit from elevation. Microlipoinjection has been used to elevate depressed tissue, however, the long-term persistence of the augmentation is questioned. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether microlipoinjection beneath depressed full-thickness grafts on the dorsum of the nose can provide effective and persistent graft elevation. METHODS: Microlipoinjection was performed at one to three sessions under depressed full-thickness skin grafts on the nose of four patients. Their appearance was assessed clinically and photographically for the amount of correction at their last postmicrolipoinjection visit. RESULTS: All four patients had clinically significant elevation of their full-thickness skin graft. In the two patients followed for over 3 years, significant augmentation persisted. CONCLUSION: Microlipoinjection can provide cosmetically useful soft tissue augmentation under depressed full-thickness skin grafts, this augmentation can persist.