title: The nasolabial flap as a single-stage procedure.
abstract: The nasolabial flap is a useful reconstructive technique for the repair of defects on the nose. An improved technique used in 32 patients is presented, which allows use of this procedure as a single-stage rather than the more commonly seen two-stage procedure. The alterations include the following: (1) the excision of a Burow's triangle superior edge of the defect toward the inner canthus; (2) the use of a periosteal or suspension suture to minimize tenting across the concave junction of the nose and cheek; (3) wide undermining of the skin surrounding the defect to create a stabilizing platelike scar; (4) significant thinning of the donor flap; and (5) adjust the size of the flap to recreate the original preincisional skin tension on the flap after suturing. None of the 32 patients presented required a second-stage procedure to correct trapdoor defects or to recreate natural folds or creases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zitelli
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing