Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the cosmetic effect of facial melanocytic nevi excision along the pigmented contours. Methods A total of 318 patients with facial melanocytic nevi were collected from the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from October 2018 to August 2020. The patients collected after October 2019 underwent contoured excision of facial melanocytic nevi （observation group）, while those collected before October 2019 underwent fusiform excision of lesions （control group）. The recurrence rate, wound length, and scar conditions were compared between the two groups one year after surgery. Comparisons of measurement data between the two groups were conducted using the t test. Results The observation group included 159 patients （372 melanocytic nevi）, comprising 24 males and 135 females, aged from 15 to 45 （25.4 ± 6.5） years; the short diameter of the melanocytic nevi ranged from 2 to 6 （3.9 ± 0.6） mm, and the long diameter ranged from 2 to 8.5 （4.3 ± 0.7） mm. The control group consisted of 159 patients （390 melanocytic nevi）, including 29 males and 130 females, aged from 16 to 48 （26.3 ± 7.3） years; the short diameter of the melanocytic nevi ranged from 2 to 6 （3.7 ± 0.8） mm, and the long diameter ranged from 2.2 to 8.4 （4.5 ± 0.5） mm. There were no significant differences in age, gender composition, or short or long diameters of the melanocytic nevi between the two groups （all P > 0.05）. After one year of follow-up, 4 patients experienced recurrence in the observation group, and 3 relapsed in the control group; the scar scores were 0.64 ± 0.24 points in the observation group and 0.58 ± 0.19 points in the control group, and there were no significant differences in the recurrence rates or scar scores between the two groups （both P > 0.05）; the increase in wound length was significantly lower in the observation group （27.44% ± 8.46%） than in the control group （48.42% ± 38.84%, t = 10.19, P < 0.005）. Conclusion Compared with the fusiform excision technique, the pigmented contoured excision technique showed similar efficacy for the treatment of facial melanocytic nevi, but resulted in shorter wound length and a more favorable appearance.

Key words: Nevus, pigmented, Facial dermatoses, Shape incision, Cicatrix, Cat ear