[Reversed vascular full-thickness nasolabial flap]

The author describes a vascular island full-thickness nasolabial flap, which is superior pedicled and is nourished by the distal portion of axial vessels, the facial artery and vein, by means of a reverse blood flow. When the vein is not available, a muscular pedicle can provide the venous drainage. This composite musculo-mucocutaneous flap was used in a single stage procedure for external cover and internal lining repair in 32 cases of full-thickness defect of the alar lobule (18 cases) or of the lower half of the nasal sidewall (14 cases). Some cases needed a secondary defatting (37.5 per cent). The final result was good in all cases, with minimal sequelae on the donor site.