Nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck: reconstruction

Reconstruction of facial defects formed after resection of skin cancers is a challenging procedure. Achieving the best functional and aesthetic outcome depends on accurate preoperative planning. Reconstructive surgeons should perform a detailed analysis of the facial defect based on location, size, and depth and choose the most appropriate technique according to their experiences and patient preferences and expectations. This article reviews the preoperative analysis of facial defects, and the major principles and techniques of facial reconstruction. Discussed are reconstruction of the nose, lip, cheek, forehead, and eyelid, presenting for each technique the goals of the reconstruction, types of flaps and grafts, and surgical technique.