Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg.  2016 Feb;22(1):28-34. 10.14730/aaps.2016.22.1.28.

Reconstructive Modalities According to Aesthetic Consideration of Subunits of the Cheek after Wide Excision of Skin Cancer

• Kim JH
• Jeong HS
• Lee BH
• Jung MS
• Park SH
• Tak KS
• Suh IS

• KMID: 2155844
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14730/aaps.2016.22.1.28

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Defects of the cheek present a reconstructive challenge because of the visibility of the site, as well as the limited local tissue supply. In addition, the cheek abuts several structures with expressive function, such as the eye, mouth, and surrounding facial musculature. This report describes a system of classifying cheek defects according to tumor size and location and present corresponding reconstruction techniques used to accomplish three-dimensional restoration of all missing components and adequate texture matching.
METHODS
From 2008 to 2013, 27 patients with cheek defects resulting from skin cancer excision were treated. According to the size of the defect, location on the cheek, and relationships to adjacent structures and existing skin tension lines, different surgical methods were applied.
RESULTS
The procedures used for cheek reconstruction included direct closure, Limberg flap, V-Y advancement flap, slide-swing flap, cheek rotation flap, and full-thickness skin graft. All flaps healed well without major complications, and no cancer recurrence was detected during follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
The anatomic classification of skin cancers and surgical protocols described in this report is simple and appropriate for reconstruction involving the cheek. Wide excision of skin cancer and appropriate, relatively easy-to-perform flaps based on this classification system can successfully produce safe and aesthetically-pleasing surgical outcomes.

Keyword

Cheek; Esthetics; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Skin neoplasms; Surgical flaps

MeSH Terms

Cheek*
Classification
Esthetics
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Mouth
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
Recurrence
Skin Neoplasms*
Skin*
Surgical Flaps
Transplants