Background: Severely contracted nose is manifested with a tight and hardened nasal envelope. Expansion of the contracted skin is an important first step in correcting these revision cases. The underlying weak lower lateral cartilage makes the tip projection structurally difficult to achieve and maintain without rigid supporting cartilage grafting.
Methods: A total 59 of patients were treated with isolated adipose-derived stromal cells before revision surgery to soften the nasal envelope. Adipose tissues were digested at 37°C with sterile 0.075% collagenase type 2. The average isolated adipose-derived stromal cell count of each serial injection was 5 × 10 cells (total injection volume, 0.5 ml; 1 × 10 cells/ml). Intraoperatively, the lower lateral cartilage was released from surrounding scar tissue to allow for advancement. Rib cartilage and other autologous grafts were used in reconstruction of the internal framework.
Results: The follow-up period ranged from January of 2009 to April of 2014. The mean follow-up period was 10 months. Fifty-one of 59 patients were satisfied with their results. Eight patients underwent revision surgery for the following: infection (two patients), deviation (one patient), warping (two patients), and cosmetic dissatisfaction (three patients). There were two cases of additional warping, but the patients refused revision surgery. Nine patients required additional adipose-derived stromal cell injections at the tip.
Conclusions: The combination of isolated fat grafting to soften the nasal skin envelope and rigid tip support results in correction of silicone-induced contracted nose. There were no incidences of recurrent nasal contraction or ischemic injury.
Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, IV.