Reconstruction of total loss of upper lip with hair-bearing flaps

Carcinoma of the lip is a relatively common problem in Papua New Guinea, accounting for some 12% of all malignant tumours in the oral cavity. The cancer is associated with chewing betelnut with slaked lime and smoking. Advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper lip is necessarily managed by primary surgery when radiotherapy facilities are not available. Adequate surgical treatment of these carcinomas usually requires full thickness excision of a portion or whole of the lip. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the role of hair-bearing scalp flap for reconstruction of total loss of the upper lip in male patients.