Aesthetic Refinements in Forehead Flap Reconstruction of the Asian Nose

Traditional paramedian forehead flap reconstruction exploits the aesthetic subunit principle. Refinements and outcomes of forehead flap nasal reconstruction largely reflect Western experience. Differences in ethnic Asian anatomy and wound healing may foster suboptimal outcomes. We modified methods to address Asian features by extending subunit and flap boundaries, minimizing flap thinning, and overbuilding the nasal framework to combat contraction and suboptimal scarring.

Between November 2010 and September 2015, 40 Asians were treated for nasal reconstruction with a modified forehead flap technique. Average age of 26 men and 14 women was 50.2 years (range: 10-87 years). Oncologic, traumatic, congenital, and infectious defects involving 1 (37%) or more (63%) subunits were reconstructed. Modifications to the classic forehead flap were extension of involved subunits and flap, conservative flap thinning, and framework overbuilding.

Patients were followed for 20 months (range: 16 months to 4 years 8 months). Nasal lining was reconstructed with hinge-over lining flaps, forehead flaps, free flaps, or regional flaps. Cartilage was reconstructed in 44 (88%) patients with autologous septum or ear in 33 (75%) cases. Costal cartilage was needed in 11 (25%) cases. In 48 (96%) cases, the ipsilateral forehead was used. There were 5 (10%) wound infections, 2 (4%) dehisced wounds, and 2 (4%) occurrences of distal flap necrosis. Nasal aesthetic results were 72.6% good, 23.3% fair, and 4% poor. Donor site aesthetic results were 74% good and 26% fair. Three case reports are included.

We report favourable results of forehead flap nasal reconstruction using refinements tailored to ethnic Asians.