[Basic techniques of plastic surgical repair in defects of the skull and face (author's transl)]

Ommitting historical datas, ancient theories and old-fashioned surgical techniques, the author gives a summary of current plastic surgery in the head and neck. After a review of aesthetic charateristics of the face, basic principles of surgical skin closure and different forms of local and distant flaps are discussed. Emphasis in placed on tissue transplanation. The biological problems in transplanatation of skin, subcutaneous and supporting tissues, using autografts, allografts and xenografts are mentioned in addition to several methods of concervation. The clinical importance of various autogenous supports used for transplantation to the skull and face is stressed. Concerning foreign implants, the author discusses the problem of the so-called foreign-body sarcoma and the foreign-body reaction to synthetic and metallic implants. Indications for using synthetic implants are mentioned. Microsurgical techniques seem to be important for further development of facial plastic surgery.