Abstract:

Objective　To provide morphologic data for plastic operating in nasolabial fold area. Methods：10 formalin fixed adult female head specimens perfused with red latex were used in this study. Microdissection was performed on the specimens along the incision from the tempus's hairline and the medial side of antilobium to the edge of the mandible.　Results　①Under the subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system（SMAS）between the outer edge of levator labii superioris alaeque nasi's and infraorbital margin, a loose tissue space directed from the laterosuperior part to the medoinferior part can be taken as the operation space for tighting soft tissues and molding nasolabial fold. ② Cheek-upper mandible ligament，stretching from the periosteum at the junction of the maxilla and the cheek bone, to the SMAS fascia and the cheek skin, with the more fat tissue at the upper part and the less at the lower part, was the key anatomic element for forming nasolabial fold.　Conclusions　The appearance of nasolabial fold is closely related to various factors such as the laxity of ageing skin, fat and ligaments, frequent muscle contraction, the gravity and the maxillary hypoplasia etc. Morphological analysis of different structural characteristics of individual nasolabial fold, consistent with anatomical, physiological structure and motion characteristics of surgical correction, can be expected to achieve good results.

Key words: Nasolabial fold, Plastic operation, Applied anatomy