8 dec The Submental Flap in Facial Reconstruction: Advantage

Complex defects resulting from surgical excision of facial cancer sometimes require reconstruction using microvascular free tissue transfer. Tissue transfer from areas distant from the face can resolve many problems, but often provides a poor cosmetic match with facial skin. The submental flap helps surmount this problem. Cervical skin has similarities with face skin, and because this is a regional flap, it helps eliminate microsurgical risks.
The submental artery island flap is a useful reconstructive procedure that offers options to the reconstructive surgeon and has definite advantages over distant flaps in terms of ease of dissection and donor site appearance.