Facial Landmark Reconstruction with a Combination of Local Flaps: A Novel Technique for Landmark Destruction.

Background: Various methods of landmark reconstruction have been discussed in medical literature, but few describe defects involving the rim of the landmark. For landmark malposition, such as eyelid ectropion, borders are abnormally elongated by scar contracture. The reconstruction should thus restore both the cutaneous defect and the anatomical structure. We suggest the combination of local flaps via end-to-end connection and transposition for facial landmark reconstruction.
Patients: Ten patients who had facial landmark malpositions caused by scar contractions, and 5 patients who had landmark defects, were successfully treated using this combination flap technique. Among the 15 patients, landmark malposition repairs of the nasal ala, nasal columella, eyelid margin, Cupid's bow, and eyebrow were performed.
Results: Most flaps survived without complications; one procedure resulted in the cutaneous tip developing necrosis, which was successfully healed within 2 weeks of conservative treatment. The landmark was reconstructed with aesthetics in mind, and no subsequent scar contracture was observed. After a 6- to 14-month follow-up period, successful landmark reconstruction had been achieved in all 15 patients via a single-stage procedure.
Conclusion: A combination of local flaps is a viable option for facial landmark reconstruction in selected patients having landmark rim destruction.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
(© 2020 The Author(s).)