Surgical treatment of the "marginal mandibular lip" deformity

Unilateral permanent paralysis of the lower lip after section or compression of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve is not rare. It may occur after trauma or as a result of parotid, ear, or upper neck surgery. Surgical treatment of the deformity--which we term the marginal mandibular lip--is indicated to improve cosmesis and restore oral competence during eating and speech. We describe our experience with partial resection of the paralyzed lower lip as an effective yet simple method of surgical correction. We also review the alternate methods of treatment for comparison.