Cheek and Neck Reconstruction

The cheek is an expanse of the face that accounts for the majority of the facial skin, and it contributes to an immense aesthetic and functional influence. Due to its centralized location on the face, it provides support to the nose, oral commissure, lip, chin, and inferior eyelid. Functionally, it is critical for facial animation, food bolus movement, and mastication. Cosmetic considerations of the cheek for reconstruction include symmetry, facial expression, and distortion of neighboring facial aesthetic units. Vital structures course throughout the area, the most crucial being the facial nerve, parotid gland, and duct. The neck is the anatomical area between the torso and mandible with abundant skin influencing various surgical and reconstructive procedures. It contains essential structures such as muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and the thyroid gland, supporting functions like breathing, swallowing, and speech. For this chapter, we will focus on cutaneous defects of the neck.