Evaluation of sclera as a homograft in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Abstract

Augmentation of deficient soft tissue contours accounts for a large part of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. An attempt to use homograft sclera in the feline animal model is presented. Augmentation of nasal dorsum and the chin contours was carried out in the cat model with preserved homograft sclera. Serial soft tissue radiographs and histologic study of the homografts demonstrated complete resorption of the grafts by six months. Further physical and chemical alterations of homograft sclera appear to be necessary prior to its implantation for the purpose of soft tissue augmentation.