Laser-assisted endoscopic reduction malarplasty in Asians: quick combined surgery

Removal of unwanted prominent cheek bones is of major importance to Korean women for correction of their unfavorable impression. We usually use a endoscope for reducing the external scar, but in endoscopic bone contouring surgery, it is important to prevent any damage to surrounding soft tissue during osteotomy and to control bleeding, without any facial nerve damage, with a clean endoscopic visual field. We used endoscopic surgery equipment, an ultrashort-pulsed endoscopic contact Nd-Yag laser (Japan SLT), and various laser fiber tips and osteotomes. Twenty-one patients who underwent laser-associated endoscopic reduction malarplasty with more than 1 year of follow-up were evaluated. Compared to conventional endoscopic osteotomy, this combined procedure was found to be safe and effective in endoscopic reduction malarplasty, due to the clean visual field and excellent hemostasis provided.