title: Z-plasty: a concise review.
abstract: One of the most commonly used techniques in facial plastic surgery is the Z-plasty. Main reasons to perform these transposition flaps are to lengthen a pre-existing scar, to camouflage a scar, or to realign a scar. The classic 60 degrees Z-plasty allows a 75% increase in scar length and is the cornerstone against which all variations are compared. Understanding the classic Z-plasty permits the surgeon to expand his or her repertoire to include the numerous variations thereof. The double-opposing Z-plasty, unequal triangle Z-plasty, four-flap Z-plasty, compound Z-plasty, and planimetric Z-plasty are the most frequent variants of the basic Z-plasty. Each are presented with illustrations and clinical indications.
authors.affiliation: Section of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hove
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rodgers
mesh_terms: D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps