USE OF THE INNERVATED PLATYSMA FLAP IN FACIAL REANIMATION

The innervated platysma musculocutaneous flap replaces facial tissue w ith like tissue. The thinness of the flap, the color match, and the pr esence of functional subcutaneous muscle are unmatched by any other fl ap that does not originate on the face. The superior blood supply is r eliably provided by the submental branch of the facial artery, creatin g a reliable axial flap. Rotation of the muscle into the cheek aligns the fibers of the platysma muscle to provide upward pull on the oral c ommissure to assist with facial animation. Three cases of innervated p latysma flap rotation to reconstruct the contour of the cheek and assi st with facial animation are reported. All the patients achieved an im proved facial contour and all flaps demonstrated noticeable contractio n, augmenting facial animation.