A New Technique of Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair with Scarless Cupid's Bow Peaks.

Abstract

A novel technique for primary unilateral cleft lip repair with scarless Cupid's bow peaks is described. This technique focuses on the curvature of the Cupid's bow and the preservation of the minute three-dimensional structure around the cleft-side peak of the Cupid's bow, such as the cutaneous roll and white skin roll. This technique has been used in 50 consecutive unilateral cleft lip repairs by a single surgeon. The flap from the lateral lip is expanded into a three-stair flap, including a lateral white lip flap, a cutaneous roll flap, and a quadrangular mucovermilion flap as partial flaps. The cleft-side peak of the Cupid's bow is made to form a curved peak with the cutaneous roll. The suture lines pass through the lip columellar crease, philtrum ridge, and upper lip groove. These lines are stepwise, just like W-plasty, and do not cross the peak of the Cupid's bow. Measurements were obtained from three-dimensional photographs, and a visual assessment was performed by standard photographs taken 1 year or later postoperatively with no additional surgery, except for palatoplasty. The Noordhoff point was kept as the peak of the Cupid's bow with no scar. The three-dimensional structure, including the cutaneous roll around the cleft-side peak of the Cupid's bow, was well maintained. The present technique allows for the fashioning of a reliable intended peak of the Cupid's bow without scarring on its point and preserves the three-dimensional structure, including the cutaneous roll.