Abstract. The aim of this study was to verify soft tissues changes and the effect of a
minimally invasive surgical technique in the nasolabial region after segmented and
non-segmented Le Fort I osteotomy, using cone beam computed tomography
(CBCT) evaluation of three-dimensional (3D) volume surfaces. Two groups were
evaluated: group 1, bimaxillary surgery with maxillary segmentation (n = 40);
group 2, bimaxillary surgery without maxillary segmentation (n = 40). In both
groups, a specific alar cinching technique was used to control nasal base broadening.
CBCT evaluation was performed at three different treatment time points: T0, 1
month before surgery; T1, 1 month after surgery; T2, 1 year after surgery. The
results showed statistically significant differences in the nasolabial area (P <
0.001). For group 1, the mean change in alar base width (Alinf–Alinf) was 1.31
1.40 mm at T1 and 0.93 1.77 mm at T2; for group 2 these values were 1.12
2.01 mm at T1 and 0.54 1.54 mm at T2. For group 1, the mean changes in inter-
alar width (Al–Al) were 1.68 1.46 mm at T1 and 1.49 1.33 mm at T2; for group
2, they were 2.22 1.93 mm at T1 and 1.34 1.79 mm at T2. The alar cinch
technique proposed here appears to be effective in controlling nasolabial soft tissue
widening.
