An ideal composite graft donor site for postburn alar rim deficiencies: root of helix

One of the challenging postburn face deformities is alar rim defects or deformities. Small through-and-through defects of the nasal ala may be managed with a composite graft of auricular tissue, obtained from the earlobe, the helical rim, and the root of the helix. We use usually the root of the helix for postburn alar defect correction as a composite graft donor site. The advantage of these composite grafts is that the procedure is a single-stage operation with excellent contour correction and a well toleration of donor site morbidity by the patient.