OBJECTIVE In order to investigate the effect of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PT-FE) in repair of facial depression. METHODS From February 1997 to July 1998. The e-PTFE was used as a filling and suspending material for facial depression and facial nerve palsy in 6 cases. They were followed up for 2-16 months. RESULTS After filling of the facial depression, the deformed side of the face became symmetrical to that of contralateral side, and those following the suspending technique using this material the affected eyelids could close completely and the oral corners were symmetrical in its static status. CONCLUSION The expanded PTFE was a safe, biocompatible and easily applied material, especially served as a filling or suspending material in the repair of facial depression with facial nerve palsy.
Objective To review the research progress of midfacial fat compartments, and to thoroughly understand its current state of the anatomy and the aging morphologic characters of midfacial fat compartments, as well as the current status of clinical applications. Methods The recent literature concerning the midfacial fat compartments and related clinical applications were extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results Midfacial fat layer has been considered as a fusion and a continuous layer, experiencing a global atrophy when aging. As more anatomical researches have done, recent studies have shown that midfacial fat layer is broadly divided into superficial and deep layers, which are both divided into different fat compartments by fascia, ligaments, or muscles. Midfacial fat compartments tend to atrophy with age, specifically in the deep fat compartments while hypertrophy in the superficial fat compartments. Clinical applications show that fat volumetric restoration with deep medial cheek fat and Ristow’s space can restore the appearance of midface effectively. Conclusion In recent years, the researches of midfacial fat compartments have achieved obvious progress, which will provide new ideas and basis for fat volumetric restoration. Corresponding treatments are selected based on different sites and different layers with different aging changes, reshaping a more youthful midface.