Reply: Removal of Nasal Silicone Implant and the Impact of Subsequent Capsulectomy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Little is known about contributory factors of unremoved periimplant capsule causing nasal deformities after postrhinoplasty silicone implant extraction. This study investigated the impact of retained capsule causing contracture deformity and effect of subsequent capsulectomy in preventing and correcting the deformity. METHODS A total of 103 patients underwent secondary surgery for silicone implant removal and grafted cartilage between May of 2015 and June of 2017. Among them, 67 patients without septal extension graft or open wound and with 8-week or more follow-up were analyzed retrospectively. All operations were approached with an intranasal incision. Three procedures were performed: (1) removal of implant plus tip graft only (n = 12), (2) removal of implant plus tip graft plus subtotal capsulectomy (n = 47), and (3) removal of implant plus tip graft plus subtotal capsulectomy in patients with contraction and thick capsule (n = 8). Preremoval/postremoval of nasal bridge length index and nasolabial angle were measured with the lateral view. RESULTS In group 1, nasal bridge length index decreased by 6.2 percent and nasolabial angle increased by 5.7 percent. In group 2, nasal bridge length index increased by 2.5 percent and nasolabial angle decreased by 2.2 percent. In group 3, nasal bridge length index increased by 8.6 percent and nasolabial angle decreased by 7.9 percent. CONCLUSIONS For patients undergoing surgical removal of a nasal silicone implant with or without cartilage, a concomitant capsulectomy is required to prevent potential contractures and to minimize tip deformity. Capsulectomy can release and lengthen the contracted nose without septal extension or derotation grafting. Dorsal skin irregularity did not occur regardless of whether capsulectomy was performed. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, IV.