Expanded preauricular full-thickness free skin graft.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Dermatology

Background:

• Facial defects require reconstructive techniques for optimal aesthetic and functional outcomes.
• Traditional preauricular skin grafts have limitations in terms of graft size and aesthetic match.
• The need for improved methods to achieve natural-looking facial reconstructions is ongoing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel technique using a preauricular skin graft with expansion for facial defect repair.
• To evaluate the aesthetic outcomes (color, texture, thickness) of this expanded graft method.
• To compare the graft size provided by this technique with the conventional preauricular graft.

Main Methods:

• A preauricular skin graft was designed with an expansion component.
• The expanded graft was utilized for the repair of a facial defect.
• Aesthetic parameters including color, texture, and thickness were assessed post-operatively.

Main Results:

• The preauricular skin graft with expansion technique yielded a more natural appearance in terms of color, texture, and thickness.
• This method provided a larger graft size compared to the standard preauricular graft.
• The technique proved effective in reconstructing facial defects while preserving aesthetic qualities.

Conclusions:

• The preauricular skin graft with expansion is a viable and advantageous technique for facial defect repair.
• This method enhances aesthetic results by providing a better match to surrounding facial tissues.
• The technique offers a practical solution for obtaining larger grafts necessary for certain facial reconstructions.