title: Free-style flaps: a further step forward for perforator flap surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Technical advancements and increased experience with perforator flap techniques have allowed the harvest of flaps in a free-style manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  To perform free or local island pedicled flaps using the free-style concept, one requires mature skills in retrograde dissection of vascular pedicles and in using a hand-held Doppler device. To keep the technique safe, certain principles should be remembered and are detailed in this article.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The free-style flap concept provides unparalleled freedom when choosing local or distant soft tissues for reconstructing a defect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potential pitfalls during free-style flap harvest can be avoided if the presented principles are adhered to. Newer imaging modalities may prove useful for assessing vessels supplying any cutaneous territory.
authors: Taipei and Kaohsiong, Taiwan From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Medical College, Chang Gung University, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiong.
authors: Christopher Glenn
authors: CG
authors: Wallace
authors: Huang-Kai
authors: HK
authors: Kao
authors: Seng-Feng
authors: SF
authors: Jeng
authors: Fu-Chan
authors: FC
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex