Advancement flaps for large defects of the eyebrow, glabella, forehead, and temple.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a system for reconstruction of large defects of the eyebrow, glabella, forehead, and temple. The system maximizes the use of direct approximation and advancement flaps before resorting to less aesthetic techniques.


METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study drawn from approximately 70 patients with post-Mohs defects of the eyebrow, glabella, forehead, and temple. Surgical intervention involved the graded application of direct approximation, horizontally oriented advancement flaps, rotational flaps, and free skin grafts. The selection of individual and combined techniques was based on defect area and depth, elasticity of adjacent tissues, and relations of the defect to the neighboring eyebrows and hairlines.


RESULTS
Reconstructive techniques applied to defects of the eyebrow, glabella, forehead, and temple can be arranged in an incremental scale that provides progressively more tissue but at an escalating aesthetic cost. The usual defect size limits for direct approximation and advancement flaps can be expanded.


CONCLUSIONS
To avoid the limitations of large rotational flaps and skin grafts in this region, maximal use of direct approximation and advancement flaps is recommended.
Harris
Gerald J
GJ
Section of Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Institutte, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226-4812, USA. gjharris@mcw.edu
Garcia
George H
GH
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005138:Eyebrows / Q000601:surgery*; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps