Reconstruction using subunit and miniunit flaps after resection of malignant tumor of the upper lip.

概要

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Aesthetic units and subunits of the face have been previously described. The upper lip has been divided by some commisures and dimples as a philtrum or nasolabial folds in topography. Burget reported the topographic subunits of the upper lip; lateral and medial unit, and the excellent refinement replacing Abbe flap belong lateral subunit. These principles are also extremely beneficial to get natural contour and symmetry in the upper lip. There is no question that replacing as a subunit brings superior result than as a patch. However sometimes the defect is too small to replace whole subunit. In such cases, we have applied miniunit principles that was instituted as individual wrinkles, commisures, highlight and shadow to get natural contour. We call such lines that make miniunit “potential wrinkle line”. As a result, we have achieved reasonable symmetry, good contour and no conspicuous facial scarring in every patient whose defect was small in upper lip. We have presented herein its description and evaluation of the advantages of subunit and miniunit principle with 2 typical cases.