Nasolabial angle and nasal tip elevation changes in profile view following a Le Fort I osteotomy with and without the use of an alar base cinch suture: A long-term cohort study

Abstract Objectives Cinch sutures attempt to counteract alar base widening, but may lead to unintended increases in the nasolabial angle and nasal tip elevation. This investigation assessed nasolabial angle changes following maxillary osteotomies with and without alar base cinch sutures in the short and long-term. Design 78 patients were assessed, 51 in the cinch group (38F, 13M; age range: 16-39 years), 27 in the no cinch group (12F, 15 M; age range 17-27 years). The upper component (nasal tip elevation), lower component (lower lip inclination) and overall nasolabial angle were measured on pre-operative, post-operative and long-term follow-up lateral cephalometric radiographs. Results Overall nasolabial angle (p=0.006) and its upper component (p Conclusions In the short-term, the alar base cinch suture increases nasal tip elevation and overall nasolabial angle. In the long-term there was no significant difference, suggesting that the initial nasal tip elevation resolves over time, and that the cinch suture may have limited effect on nasal tip elevation in the longer term.