Arch Plast Surg.  2012 Mar;39(2):126-129. 10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.126.

Surgical Treatment of Dermatomal Capillary Malformations in the Adult Face

• Kim Y
• Oh SJ
• Lee J
• Yang J
• Koh SH
• Jung SW

• KMID: 1921075
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.126

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Facial capillary malformations (CMs) rarely recede; they often become darker and raised in proportion to their growth. These malformations may hypertrophy in adulthood, resulting in increased disfigurement and dysfunction. Laser treatment is considered a first-line therapy for focal CMs, but thick wide lesions, which are accompanied by hypertrophy and have a well-circumscribed nodularity, may be treated with surgical excision and reconstruction.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 25 consecutive patients who had undergone complete or partial excisions of facial capillary malformations in our unit. After the excisions, the defects that encompassed their facial aesthetic units were subsequently covered by various methods, including primary closures, local flaps, expanded flaps, split-thickness skin grafts, and full thickness skin grafts.
RESULTS
The data demonstrated satisfactory results and reliability. Our patients were treated without significant complications, and all of the patients were moderately or fully satisfied with the outcome of their surgeries.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the many reconstructive options for adult patients with facial capillary malformations, thick split-thickness skin grafts can be a good choice for the coverage of widely excised wounds.

Keyword

Vascular malformations; Skin transplantation; Surgical flap

MeSH Terms

Adult
Capillaries
Humans
Hypertrophy
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Skin Transplantation
Surgical Flaps
Transplants
Vascular Malformations
Capillaries
Vascular Malformations