Reconstruction of the nasal tip using a nasalis myocutaneous flap

Reconstruction of nasal tip defects is a technical and aesthetic challenge for dermatological surgeons, due to the limited reservoir of available skin and its thick, inflexible nature. The myocutaneous flap described in this paper, using the vascular pedicle of the transverse nasalis muscle, is an excellent option for repair of defects of the nasal tip. It provides a cosmetically superior result to skin grafting, particularly in noses of 'sebaceous' quality, by providing similar local skin. The flap maintains normal nasal tip contour and, being an axial pattern flap, its blood supply is reliable.