What Implant Material Do You Use For Premaxillary/Paranasal Augmentation?

Q: Hi  Do you do premaxillary augmentation? I had a lip lift and I lost the subnasale curve so that now the subnasal is pushed in and sits a little behind the pink lip. The curve was removed from the subnasal area which I would like this procedure to put the curve there I would like to augment the area with something other than an implant. I came across this article on premaxillary augmentation and wondered if you can do it this way? Thanks.

A: Premaxillary and/or paranasal augmentation is one of the least implanted of all facial areas. Its ‘need’ is based on some degree of maxillary or low level midface deficiency. It is more common in certain ethnic groups where the maxillary profile is concave to flat rather than convex. Premaxillary augmentation specifically refers an anterior nasal base and anterior nasal spine deficiency. It is the smallest of all facial implants and is made as an off-the-shelf implant by very few manufacturers. Its implant position is unique in that it has a vertical placement at the base of the nose, which makes it more prone to shifting, and the soft tissue coverage between it and the linings of the mouth and nose is thin.

Mersilene mesh is an implant material that has been around for a long time. It is a traditional preformed implant but rather sheets of non-resorbable mesh material (intended for hernia) that it rolled and made into an implant by the surgeon. It finds its greatest use if chin augmentation. Its drawback as a facial implant is that it has no form of its own and must be rolled and cut into a crude-looking implant. However, in the small area of the paranasal/premaxillary region with no complexity to its needed shape, it will work quite well. It does have an advantage in this area as scar tissue will quickly grow into it holding it into place. Mersilene mesh is a very acceptable material for premaxillary augmentation is my experience.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana