Aesthetic treatment of progressive hemifacial atrophy (Romberg's disease): use of a pedicled platysma muscle flap.

Several methods have been described for anesthetic correction of Romberg's disease. We have used the platysma muscle flap as the only procedure in four cases of severe to moderate disease. The platysma flap was transected at the clavicular level, turned at the mandibular margin, and spread subcutaneously on the affected side from the nasolabial fold up to the orbital margin and laterally to the anterior part of the ear. The flap masked the atrophy relatively well, and no complications were seen during or after the procedure. The procedure can be combined with orthognathic surgery if required.