title: Flexible Curved V-Y Subcutaneous Flap for Facial Skin Defects.
abstract: We devised an improved type of the V-Y subcutaneous pedicle flap with the elements of both advancement and rotation flaps. This flexible curved V-Y subcutaneous flap was used for facial skin defect reconstruction in 15 patients. Curved flaps were designed according to the elasticity of the surrounding skin and the postoperative scar direction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the 15 patients, the flap survived without circulatory impairment, and follow-up for more than 1 year indicated an inconspicuous scar and good course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With elements of both advancement and rotation flaps, transfer and wound closure of the flexible curved V-Y subcutaneous flap are easy. In addition, the postoperative scar can be positioned along natural wrinkle lines and relaxed skin tension lines. This may be a useful local flap for facial and general plastic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawazoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki