title: Reconstruction of a columellar defect with a nasolabial island flap.
abstract: Columellar skin defects may be caused by excision of cutaneous malignancy, trauma, or tissue necrosis associated with surgery. Although columellar skin necrosis rarely occurs following rhinoplasty, this condition might be more common when using an external approach than a closed approach. Columellar skin incision performed with exaggerated tip augmentation may cause columellar necrosis. The nasolabial island flap, used unilaterally to cover columellar skin defects, is used for a single-stage reconstruction procedure and is generally not associated with the need for secondary surgeries. This technique is well suited for repairing columellar skin defects. We experienced a patient with columellar skin necrosis occurring after rhinoplasty which was reconstructed using a unilateral single-stage nasolabial island flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Il Gyu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Columellar defect; Island flap; Rhinoplasty