J Korean Soc Aesthetic Plast Surg.  1999 Sep;5(2):288-292.

EXCISION OF PARAFFINOMA BY DIRECT INCISION ON NASAL DORSUM

• Kim YM
• Paik MH
• Kim SH

Abstract

The injection of paraffin for cosmetic purpose is an illegal method as it evokes late complications such as the development of grauuloma, migration of foreign body, inflammation, ulceration, embolic phenomenon, etc. However, paraffin has been used by some unauthorized people for the augmentation of the soft tissue, i.e. face, breasts, as they can easily reansform the body contour in a short time and paraffin is not expensive to do so. Paraffinoma has been reported frequently as a delayed or late complication of foreign body reaction in the field of plastic surgery. And various mehtods of its surgical treatment also has been a topic of plastic surgeon, as postoperative outcome is not satisfactory. As the nose is located at the center of face, the patients who are suffering from paraffinoma in nose could not conceal their deformed appearance by cosmetics. Therefore the only method of improvement is surgical removal of paraffinoma. Paraffinoma of nose has been removed by transcolumellar, infracartilaginous, intercartilaginous incision. However, complete removal of the foreign material does not seem to be possible, may leave complications such as hematoma and overlying skin necrosis, and the remaining foreign material does not permit symmetric appearance. We experienced excision of paraffinoma by direct incision on nasal dorsum. 3 patients with paraffinoma of nose were successfully treated without any complications by vertical elliptical excision on the dorsum of the nose, and scars on nasal dorsum were acceptable with satisfaction by patients. Therefore, the authors concluded that excision of paraffinoma by direct incision on nasal dorsum is a good method for symmetric resection of foreign material, low risk of complication.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Cicatrix
Foreign Bodies
Foreign-Body Reaction
Hematoma
Humans
Inflammation
Necrosis
Nose
Paraffin
Skin
Surgery, Plastic
Ulcer
Paraffin