Complex facial nevi: a surgical algorithm

Sixty-six children with large congenital nevi of the face were surgically managed in our center during the last 8 years. All patients with a lesion that posed a reconstructive challenge were included in the study. None could be effectively dealt with by excision and simple primary closure. To simplify description and evaluation, the patients were divided into three groups. Group I had 15 patients with relatively small lesions (1- to 3-cm maximal diameter) that were confined to one aesthetic unit of the face and could be reconstructed in one stage. Reconstruction was usually achieved by using local skin flaps or with full-thickness skin grafting. Group II had 28 patients with medium-sized lesions (3- to 12-cm maximal diameter) that involved one or two aesthetic units and required not more than two stages for reconstruction. These patients usually needed either serial excisions and/or skin grafting or a two-stage tissue expansion procedure (insertion of tissue expanders and reconstruction). Group III had 23 patients with very large lesions (over 12 cm in maximal diameter), some covering half of the face and thus involving several aesthetic units and requiring multiple stages for reconstruction. These patients required a combination of tissue expansion procedures, large faciocervical and scalp/forehead skin flaps, full-thickness skin grafting, and serial excisions for reconstruction. The anatomic distribution of the lesions over the various aesthetic units is described, as are the reconstructive techniques with advantages and disadvantages of each, reflecting on outcome. The approach to the larger complex lesions is detailed. Based on our experience, a reconstructive algorithm is proposed.