ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the operative technique and therapeutic effect of free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap in the correction of facial depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Oct. 1996 to Jan. 2007, 32 patients with facial depression deformities were treated with free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps. The bone defects in 8 cases were corrected with Medpor implants at the same stage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>33 free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps were used in 32 patients. 2 flaps were used bilaterally in one patient. The size of the flaps ranged from 12 cm x 8 cm to 20 cm x 11 cm (average, 16.5 cm x 10.5 cm). 30 flaps survived completely. Flap edge resorption happened in 3 flaps within half a year postoperatively. Satisfactory results were achieved in 23 patients after one-stage treatment. Another 9 patients underwent secondary operation 6 months postoperatively. Among them, 6 patients underwent flap liposuction because of fatty appearance, 3 patients underwent fat transplantation because of flap edge resorption. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2.5 years. All the deformities were improved greatly, and the faces were almost symmetrical. The wounds at the donor sites were primarily healed with no functional morbidity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap is a large size flap. The flap thickness can be adjusted for three-dimensional reconstruction. The vascular anatomy is relatively stable. The bone defects can also be corrected at the same stage.</p>