The Versatile Facial Artery Perforator-Based Nasolabial Flap in Midface Reconstruction

Abstract

Introduction: Defects in the lower two thirds of the face occur due to trauma, tumoral masses, or infections. In this study, repairs of various defects located in the midface using facial artery perforator-based nasolabial flaps are presented. Patients and Methods: Between January 2009 and June 2013, 15 patients with defects in the lower two thirds of the face or the intraoral region underwent repairs with facial artery perforator-based nasolabial flaps. The etiology was malignant skin tumor excisions in 11 patients, infection in 2 patients, and trauma in 2 patients. Among the patients, 10 were male and 5 were female. Their mean age was 65.1 (range: 20-86) years. The mean duration of follow-up was 14 (7-24) months. The defects were located at the upper lip, cheek, lower lip, intraoral region, and the nasal area. The size of the defects varied between 10 x 10mm and 40 x 50 mm. All the flaps were prepared as perforator flaps. The flap donor area was primarily closed. Results: No partial or total flap loss was observed in any of the flaps. The flap donor areas healed without problem. Full patient satisfaction was achieved both aesthetically and functionally. Conclusion: The nasolabial perforator flap has certain advantages such as the 1-stage application, repair using a similar tissue, a wider rotation arc around the pedicle compared to the other regional flaps, and the primary closure of the donor area. Based on these characteristics, itis an ideal alternative for the repairs of the defects located in the lower two thirds of the face or the intraoral region.