Z-plasty template: an innovation in Z-plasty fashioning

Although Z-plasty is one of the basic skills in the armamentarium of a plastic surgeon, one is rarely found using a protractor to measure the exact angles. Two types of simple gadgets are described here to fashion Z-plasties with desired (fixed or variable) angles useful in various types of Z-plasties. These gadgets are made from transparent plastic sheets. They can be sterilized by formalin vapor or ethylene oxide gas. Since they are pliable, they can be adapted to the contours on the body. These are found to be particularly useful in cases where asymmetrical Z-plasties are needed.