[Presuture: back-up technique in plastic surgery. Review of 18 cases]

The recent technique of "presuturing" has been used in 18 cases of skin lesions in which primary wound closure after resection would not have been possible without undermining. This method, which takes a few more minutes, on the day before the operation, allows an easier surgical closure after resection. Our case reports concern melanomas, giant nevi, Bowen's disease and tattoos measuring 6 to 84 cm2. Some sites respond better than others to presuturing. The cosmetic gain for the patient confirms the surgical gain of this method.