[The complete dorsum nasal island flap based on the superior alar artery]

The complete dorsal nasal aesthetic unit can be raised in a vascular island flap based on the superior alar artery, at the level of the nasalis muscle. This flap uses the vertical glabellar cutaneous laxity. It hides scars between the nasal aesthetics units and its distal rotation point allows a pure translation of the nasal skin without distortions encountered when using medial canthal rotation flaps. This local flap is reliable and had been successfully used for four patients without complications or secondary procedures. It allows large reconstructions for up to 25 mm defects leaving minimal scars. It represents an interesting alternative for the reconstruction of defects of the nasal tip or supra tip of the nose, and has also been used for alar reconstructions.