title: Bilateral Transposition Lip Flaps: A Novel Single-Stage Reconstruction of Central Upper Lip Defects Involving Cupid's Bow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Defects of the central upper lip present a challenge. A variety of techniques have been described, but most tend to efface the natural contours present in the philtrum and the cutaneous-mucosal vermilion border (Cupid's bow). Furthermore, the techniques typically require a second-stage procedure to improve the upper lip aesthetic. We discuss a novel technique using bilateral transposition flaps to reconstruct central defects of the upper lip that violate Cupid's bow while maintaining normal aesthetic landmarks in a single stage. The mean angle of the transposition flaps was calculated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 7 patients was performed to identify those who underwent reconstruction of central upper lip defects at a Mohs reconstruction referral practice. Medical records from January 2009 to December 2013 were evaluated. The mean diameter of the final defect was 1.4 cm (range, 1.2-2.1 cm). The mean angle of the transposition flaps used was 50°. All defects were closed in a single stage with no secondary defect remaining. There was no need for a second-stage procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of bilateral transposition flaps is a viable and preferred method for a single-stage reconstruction of the Cupid's bow and philtrum in central defects of the upper lip.
authors.affiliation: Department of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York2Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York3Division of Facial Plastic and Recons.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jacono
authors.affiliation: Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York5Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Manhasset, New York.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Talei
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps