Background: The individual with a cleft lip will require
several surgical procedures during the patient early life. It is
critical to prioritize treatment of secondary abnormalities and
therefore reduce the number of necessary interventions.
Objective: Fat grafting represents a minimally invasive
technique, and we aimed to evaluate the effect of fat grafting in
correcting secondary deformities post cleft lip repair.
Patients and Methods: This prospective clinical trial includes
30 patients with secondary deformities post cleft lip repair.
This study was conducted at Kasr El-Ainy, Cairo University
Hospitals, Plastic Surgery Department, between October
2019 and May 2021. All patients received a fat injection to the
lip and were evaluated using pre and postoperative ultrasonography
and photo graphometry (image J), the Vancouver scar
scale, and the patient satisfaction questionnaire.
Results: There were statistically significant differences in
scar width in bilateral cases (right scar 4.1062 Vs 3.7923) (left
scar 3.7985 Vs 3.5146) and lip thickness in both unilateral and
bilateral cases using ultrasonography, and statistically significant
differences in scar width, vermilion Hight, and nasolabial
angle by photograph meter, and statistically significant difference
in preoperative and postoperative Vancouver scar scale,
with overall very good patient satisfaction.
Conclusions: Fat injection should be considered a therapeutic
option in managing secondary lip deformities, particularly
the volume deficiency, mild to moderate vermilion notching,
and wide depressed scars, as it is a simple procedure with
minimal and almost no complications.