It will be found, then, that the two masses are made to meet at about the center of the furrow, leaving a slight wall of tissue between them. This wall has the virtue of preventing the falling down of the upper mass, at the same time dividing the quantity of the injected mass into two, and lessening the weight.
If the condition is bilateral both sides are operated on at the same sitting. If subsequent injections are needed they are done three weeks later, the punctures being made between the former first and second punctures and the second and outer border of the furrow. In this way the entire site is filled with a series of injections.
If the surgeon desires he may increase the number of these needle punctures at the first sitting, making them nearer together in that event.
It will be found necessary in some cases to inject the cold mixture of vaselin and paraffin into the furrow directly below the wing of the nose, since the integument at that point requires a mass somewhat harder than vaselin to force and hold it up.
The rest of the furrow must, however, be injected with vaselin alone, for the reasons already given in parts that are movable.
The reaction is rarely very marked and subsides in about three days.
Gentle massage may be permitted above the site of injection to keep the mass from crawling into the cheek. This is done by gently stroking the skin from below upward toward the nose on a line an inch above the original depression.
The dressings are the same as before mentioned, although collodion painted over the needle openings is most serviceable after having sponged off the sites with absorbent cotton dipped into absolute alcohol to remove the vaselin that may have exuded from the openings during the molding-out process.
Oral-Angular Furrow.—These furrows occur at the corners of the mouth, running downward upon the anterior chin. Small as these defects appear, they are found difficult of obliteration, for the reason that the tissues are more or less under constant movement during the waking hours. Repeated injections, each of small quantity, are necessary. Hard paraffin is contra-indicated.
The injections are made from above the defect downward at right angles to the defect.