Reconstruction of Central Upper Lip Defects With the Subcutaneous Pedicled Nasolabial Island Flap

Defects in the central upper lip are difficult to close because of the unique anatomy and limited reconstructive options. Therefore, for every individual patient, reconstructive goals must be prioritized. Reconstructive priorities for an old patient with a large full-thickness oncologic defect are clearly different than those of a teenager with a residual deficiency after cleft repair. Authors aim to share their experience of 2 cases in which large central upper lip oncologic defects have been reconstructed in a single stage using subcutaneous pedicled nasolabial island flap, which provides a single-stage reconstruction by recruiting tissue from the cheek. It obsoletes the need for a lip adhesion. Lip adhesion-related feeding problems are eliminated, oral aperture circumference is maintained, and oral function is preserved. For the elderly male, a full beard is an advantage because it hides both the cheek and the lip scars.