Skin expansion versus free forearm flap in forehead reconstruction

The authors present their experience in surgical reconstruction of the forehead cosmetic unit, either with tissue expansion or free tissue transfer. Some of the cases underwent a full reconstruction of the entire cosmetic forehead unit en bloc performed by means of free forearm flap such as in postoncological exeresis and in post-traumatic reconstruction. The other method of choice was tissue expansion. The authors expanded the forehead unit for a giant naevus treatment in a child, and used a bilateral expansion of the forehead for tumour clearance of the middle third of the forehead. Results and problems related to the two techniques are presented and discussed.