Upper Labial Vestibular Myomucosal Flap to Correct Postrhinoplasty Complications in the Nasal Vestibule

Abstract

Background:. Complications in the nasal vestibule are infrequent and require complex surgical management owing to the unique anatomical characteristics of the area. The poorly vascularized receptor bed and secondary contractions limit the usefulness of skin grafts. The visible scar in the donor area and volume that alters respiratory function restrict the use of skin flaps. We propose an upper labial vestibular myomucosal flap, which we interpolate through a sublabial-nasal tunnel, as a viable alternative for correcting various lesions in the nasal vestibule. Methods:. We reviewed the medical records and photographic archives of cases involving reconstruction of the nasal vestibule with the proposed flap, performed in a private clinic and the National Hospital “Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen.” Both are in Lima, Peru. The study period was from March 2016 to July 2022. Results:. We created 20 flaps (12 unilateral and 4 bilateral) in 16 patients 26–56 years of age. Three patients had acute postrhinoplasty defects, and 13 had chronic lesions (9 postrhinoplasty and 4 nasal reconstructions). Conclusions:. The proposed flap offers the advantage of providing thin tissues with characteristics similar to those of the defect, and it leaves no visible scar in the donor area.