NOTE: The photos and videos below contain material that may be graphic for sensitive viewers.
Post Cheek
Defect after skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) removal. Cheek reconstruction with rotation-advancement flap / Nasal sidewall reconstruction with full thickness skin graft. 5 months post-op. No revision surgery.
Reconstruction of facial units and subunits individually, when possible, can yield more aesthetic results by hiding scars at “the joins of subunits”, or natural transition points, that we normally expect to see when we look at someone’s face.
Post Nose Lateral
Full thickness nasal defect involving all 3 layers of the nose (skin cover, cartilage, inner lining) after removal of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma). Three stage forehead flap with cartilage graft from ear for reconstruction. 9 months post-op. No revision surgery.
Cartilage grafting is often needed for complex nasal reconstruction to either restore/recreate what was lost or to reinforce nasal shape. In this case, a large portion of the right nasal ala, or “wing” of the nose, is missing. This portion of the nose does not contain cartilage, but naturally has compact fibrofatty tissue imparting shape and keeping the nostril open. When this compact tissue is lost, the concha (inner bowl) of the ear is an excellent source of donor cartilage to serve as a structural support to keep the nostril open. (Of note, a portion of the right hemi-tip and underlying lower lateral cartilage was resected as well.)
Post Nose Central
Nasal reconstruction after skin cancer removal with 2-stage forehead flap and cartilage graft to re-support the nasal tip. 10 months post-op, no revision surgery. (Written consent obtained from patient for posting online.)