Philtrum formation in cleft lip surgery.

This is a modification of Millard's rotation-advancement principle in closing unilateral lip clefts, published in 1971. In selected cases, if there is enough soft tissue at the base of the columella to fill the defect between the columella base and the rotated short part of the philtrum, a slightly curved scar will be formed resembling the normal philtral column. From 1967 till the end of 1981, out of a total number of 1305 unilateral cleft lip repairs, 189 were operated in this manner using the described modification of Millard's technique with good results. For most of the other cases and especially with wide clefts, the original method of Millard is preferred.