title: Soft tissue reconstruction of the forehead and temple.
abstract: Soft tissue reconstruction of the forehead and temple challenges facial plastic surgeons to balance esthetic goals with functional concerns. Understanding the muscular and neurovascular anatomy is essential to achieve these ends. Reconstructive considerations include maintaining hairlines and eyebrows, minimizing scarring, using relaxed skin tension lines, and preserving motor and sensory function. Reconstructive options range from healing by secondary intention to primary closure, skin grafts, local flaps, island flaps, or any combination of these techniques.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Diego, and San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, #112C, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology