Lip reconstruction: Larger wounds may require two-stage transposition procedure

Key Points

"When someone has a fairly substantial wound from a skin cancer, island pedicle flaps and advancement flaps are the 'workhorse' procedures that we rely on in the vast majority of cases," says Glenn D. Goldman, M.D., associate professor and chief of dermatology, the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vt.

Linear repairs and lip wedge reconstructions offer highly aesthetic outcomes, according to Dr. Goldman, who says these techniques produce an almost invisible line on the lip.

He says physicians should not be afraid to extend linear repairs right through the vermilion border - something that was avoided historically.