The versatility of spandex photographic retractor for transoral surgical procedures

The trend toward transoral access, be it for pathology or facial cosmetic surgery, has become increasingly popular over the last two decades with facial incisions being used more and more sporadically than otherwise. Transoral access because of its inherent limitations, retraction of the oral and perioral tissues without inducing physical or thermal injury makes it a daunting task for the operating surgeon. The use of conventional retractors in conjunction with surgical instruments can lead to inadvertent injury to the perioral tissues resulting in untoward postoperative sequelae leading to patient discomfort and delayed recovery. This article elucidates the versatility of a simple photographic retractor (spandex) as a useful adjunctive tool in the retraction and protection of the perioral tissues for almost all transoral surgical procedures.