M. Bayramicli et al., THE MENTAL V-Y ISLAND ADVANCEMENT FLAP IN FUNCTIONAL LOWER LIP RECONSTRUCTION, Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 100(7), 1997, pp. 1682-1690
Various flap procedures for the reconstruction of lower lip defects ha
ve been described to achieve the basic requirements of a functional re
pair, namely muscle function and sensation. Flaps elevated fi om the u
pper lip or the adjacent cheek may provide a solution, but for larger
lower lip defects, presentation of function is difficult. In this arti
cle, a new functional lower lip reconstruction technique that includes
the transfer of a myocutaneous flap based on the mental neurovascular
bundle and on the branches of the facial artery is described. The pri
nciple of this reconstructive procedure is to advance the tissues from
both sides of the chin as myocutaneous flaps upward to the lip defect
, reorienting the muscles of the flap for sphincteric function, and pr
eserving the mental nerve for sensation. The depressor anguli oris and
remnants of the orbicularis muscle together with their motor nerve br
anches are included in the V-Y advancement flap.