title: Aesthetic reconstruction of a defect in the skin of the upper lip using a hatchet flap.
abstract: Reconstruction of the upper lip requires symmetrical reconstruction of the free border according to the aesthetic principle. We have reconstructed this area with a hatchet flap, so that the scars match the subunit line as far as possible by rotation and advancement of the flap. We operated on six patients. The lower pedicled flap was used in 4 cases and the upper pedicled flap in 2, who also needed reconstruction of the vermillion. In one patient the scar did not match the nasolabial fold. For the upper pedicled cases, scars made on the vermillion were not conspicuous. However, trap door deformity occurred in half, which was a disadvantage. We think that our flap is useful, because it leaves a minimal scar in an inconspicuous area.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kasihara, Nara, Japan. makuwa@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurugi
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mashiba
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iioka
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niitsuma
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult