Statement of the problem: Access to maxillary and adjacent structures has been difficult and limited in terms of direct vision and reaching deeper anatomical structures. Traditional open approaches usually result in facial scars and asymmetric muscles unbalance. The converse midface degloving technique and newer instrumentation allows proper visualization and surgical removal of deeply seeded pathologies in the maxilla and peripheral tissues.

Material and method: 4 patients (females) ages 14–36 years old (average 22.5) were treated for tumor removal and immediate reconstruction via midface degloving, two required a Le Fort I Osteotomy with down-fracture and repositioning with plates and screws. All lesions were benign: odontogenic myxoma (2), non-odontogenic myxoma and central giant cell tumor. C-T scans, photographs and standard radiographs were obtained before surgery and every year after surgery. The patients were followed for a minimum of 18 months (18 months to 22 years).

Results: All patients showed no recurrence at the latest follow-up, there were no facial scars and the dentition did not suffered secondary to the surgical procedures.

Conclusions: The mid-face degloving approach allows adequate visualization for surgical removal of tumors in the maxilla and adjacent structures with minimal morbidity.

Conflict of interest: None declared.