title: Repair of defects of the nasal ala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alar defects present a reconstructive challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define closure options for alar defects of variable thickness and location.
  
  
  METHODS
  The repair options for closure of alar defects are reviewed and discussed with regard to depth of defect and complexity of reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgeons repairing defects of the nose should develop a variety of reconstructive approaches for the ala including but not limited to those presented here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wiemer
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps