Local Flaps

The face is subdivided into aesthetic subunits, and cutaneous defects are best reconstructed with local flaps within the aesthetic subunit. Knowledge of local flap design and classification is essential for the reconstructive surgeon, and choosing the correct flap requires comprehensive defect analysis. Flaps can be characterized by the vascular supply, flap composition, or method of transfer and design, with the last being the more common description of local flaps. Common local flaps include advancement flaps (unilateral or bilateral unipedicle flaps, A-T flap, O-T flap, V-Y flap), rotational flaps (O-Z flap, cervicofacial flap), and transposition flaps (rhomboid flap, bilobe flap, Z-plasty).