Submental Myocutaneous Island Flap in the Reconstruction of Facial Defects

Abstract

Regional or free myocutaneous flaps are in use to reconstruct large, traumatic or surgical facial defects. However; the color, texture and thickness of the facial skin do not always match with that of the flaps. On the other hand, for the flaps suitably matched with these properties of the skin, the lack of a reliable vascular pedicle is a significant disadvantage. In this study, submental myocutaneous island flap, presenting the minimum of these disadvantages, is described with the surgical technique and results in 3 cases. Experience from these cases has emphasized the advantages of the flap with its surgical and cosmetic results.

Keywords

• facial neoplasm
• facial defect
• reconstructive surgical methods
• surgical flaps.