Cheek Reconstruction
Cheek Reconstruction
Due to presence of plentiful and elastic tissue in the cheek, most defects can be repaired with advancement and rotation of adjacent skin. The following case is a cheek reconstruction example of a mid cheek defect which was repaired with an advancement technique known as O to T closure.
Medial cheek defects can be easily camouflaged in the nasolabial fold (the crease between the nose and cheek) as demonstrated in this patient.
Laterally positioned cheek defects can be approached through a facelift incision. The cheek tissues are elevated as in a facelift, and skin is closed hidden inside the ear. The following patient had a recurrent cancer in the lateral cheek and underwent Mohs’ surgery. She was concerned about the reconstructive outcome in light of recurrent nature of her tumor. In this case a facelift flap provided enough tissue for coverage of the cheek defect.
Larger defects involving the mid-cheek can be reconstructed with a cheek rotation flap also known as Mustarde flap. Skin from the neck and lateral cheek is mobilized and advanced towards the defect site. The following patient is a demonstrative example of how large mid-cheek defects can be repaired.
Cheek Reconstruction: 212-223-1333
