Repair of cutaneous and mucosal upper lip defects using double V-Y advancement flaps

The repair and reconstruction of the upper lip defects should focus on the important anatomical landmarks of the upper lip. In this investigation, double V-Y advancement flaps were used to simultaneously repair the cutaneous and mucosal defects of the upper lip. It was especially suitable for young patients with tight skin and high-risk scar hyperplasia in the donor sites.

The objective was to examine the surgical outcomes following the simultaneous repairation of upper lip mucocutaneous defects using double V-Y advancement flaps.

A retrospective review of all patients with defects near the vermilion border who underwent double V-Y flaps repair from July 2014 to November 2018 was performed. Transverse V-Y advancement flaps were used to repair the cutaneous defects and longitudinal V-Y advancement flaps to repair the mucosal defects.

Fifteen patients (six males, nine females) were retrospectively reviewed. Defects spanning the vermilion border ranged from 0.8 × 0.5 to 2.5 × 1.5 cm² . Follow-up was for 3 months or longer. There were no perioperative complications or visible postoperative scars, and major anatomic landmarks were preserved and reconstructed. All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome.

Double V-Y advancement flaps are suitable for the repair of superficial mucocutaneous defects smaller than 50% of the lateral upper lip, especially for younger patients with tight skin.