Application of expanded skin flap in facial aesthetic and plastic surgery / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the aesthetic effect of the applying the expanded skin flap to re-pair facial defects produced by removal of nevus, hemangioma, scars and so on. Methods The experience of the treating 67 patients with facial lesions using the expanded flaps were reviewed. The proper expand-ers were chosen according to the scope of the facial lesion. The incision was located at the scar region and the dissection was executed in the superficial layer of the SMAS. The interspace was larger than the ex-pander by 1.0～1.5 cm. After exact hemostasis, the expanders and negative pressure drainage tubes were placed into the interspace. The design of the facial expanded skin flap included the advance, rotation, and transposition of skin flap and so on. The advance of skin flap took fully use of the expanded skin flap without the donor site defect. The transposition of skin flap also took fully use of the expanded skin flap, furthermore, it overcame the displacement and the disfiguration caused by the applying of the advance skin flap and rotation skin flap. The incisions in face were designed to a minimal extent and parallel to the Lan-ger line. Results All of the 67 cases got aesthetic satisfied results with all the flaps surviving. Conclusion The application of expanded skin flaps is proved to be an effective way of repairing facial wound when there is enough normal facial skin for expansion.