Freehand full-thickness grafting for facial defects: a review of methods

This article reviews the use of full-thickness skin grafts for closure of facial defects.

In almost 3 years, 30 patients had full-thickness skin grafting after removal of premalignant or malignant facial skin lesions. The most common graft harvest sites included the preauricular and postauricular, neck, and supraclavicular areas.

Few complications were seen except for rare surface necrosis and depression of the grafted site, and the esthetic results were generally satisfactory.

Full-thickness skin grafts offer a reliable alternative to the use of flaps in selected cases.