PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: A 25-year-old woman with a broad nasal tip and thin skin desires refinement in her nasal contour. Classic surgical maneuvers could be performed including a myriad of endonasal and open techniques. Regardless of technique, incisions would be needed to expose the lower lateral cartilages to be cut, sutured, scored, or morselized in order to balance the intrinsic forces that resist deformation. What if cartilage could be shaped without the need for these classic maneuvers? Cartilage is a charged polymer hydrogel and shares similarities with many polymers and plastics. Can it be shaped in the same way plastics are reshaped? Recently, several approaches have been developed in the US and Europe to reshape cartilage in living tissues by exploiting the visco-elastic nature of this unique tissue. As with all polymers, changing the physical and chemical environment of the cartilage tissue matrix leads to profound changes in the mechanical properties so that they can be exploited to achieve shape change. Several methods, techniques and devices will be discussed, including: thermoforming, lasers, and electromechanical shaping. Collectively, these minimally invasive approaches may lead to minimally invasive needle-based methods to reshape the cartilage in the face and upper airway.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: 1) Understand the current “state of the union” in translational research in facial plastics. 2) Understand the patient scenarios presented so you may practically utilize the information presented. 3) Understand the near- and longer-term possibilities either in treatment or other innovations.
02294-1_summary.png)
