Reconstruction after resection of a lower lip squamous cell carcinoma with a submental island flap

Lip cancer is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity and the second most common cancer in the head and neck. Typically, squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip is an ulcerated lesion with raised margins. Surgery is the best treatment for lower lip cancer. The lips are important aesthetically because of their prominent location on the face and functionally because of the essential mechanism of the sphincter in assisting mastication, swallowing, phonation, and expressing emotions. Depending on the location and size of a lip tumor, different types of reconstructive flaps are used. We describe our technique for reconstructing the lower lip with a submental island flap.