[Reconstruction of soft tissue defects at nose, lip, and cheek with facial artery perforator flaps].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of facial artery perforator flap for the soft tissue defects at nose, lip and cheek. METHODS: The facial artery perforator adjacent to the defect was identified by Doppler ultrasonography. The perforator flap was designed according to the defect location, size and shape. The subcutaneous tissue around the perforator was kept as much as possible to protect the venous drainage. RESULTS: From Oct. 2012 to Oct.2013, 26 cases were treated with facial artery perforator flaps, with 9 cases of nasal defects, 10 cases of lip defects and 7 cases of buccal defects. The defects size ranged from 1.5 cm x 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm x 3.0 cm and the flaps size ranged from 2.0 cm x 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm x 3. 5 cm. Superficial necrosis(3mm in width) happened at the end of one flap. All the other 25 flaps survived completely. 16 cases were followed up for 3 months to 2 years with no relapse and satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Both cosmetic and functional effect can be achieved with facial artery perforator flap for defects at nose, lip and cheek.