Nasolabial Skin Flaps to The Cheek

EDITORIAL COMMENT

In treating defects of the face, the possibility of primary closure and even the use of split- or full-thickness skin grafts should be considered first. The cases illustrated demonstrate a good alternative when the simpler techniques will not suffice.

The nasolabial flap has long been used for coverage or reconstruction of the nose and its neighboring regions (Fig. 104.1). The flap can be either inferiorly or medially based (1, 2, 3, 4).

ANATOMY

The facial artery and its main branches lie deep and run close to the oral and mucous membranes (Fig. 104.3A). In contrast, the alar branch of the facial artery has a rich anastomosis with other arteries and supplies the overlying skin and subcutaneous tissue (Fig. 104.2C). Based on these facts, the nasolabial flap may be elevated as an axial-pattern flap centering around the alar base, even if the main artery itself is not actually contained in the flap.

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