[Esthetic reconstruction of the superior hemilip using the Abbé technique modified by Burget. Apropos of 5 cases]

When a patient must undergo resection of part of the upper lip for the treatment of a cancer or following a traumatic defect of the upper hemilip, the surgeon is faced with the problem of reconstruction of a lip whose appearance and function must be as close as possible to the normal lip. The limits of the normal lip must be restored: the symmetry, equilibrium of the lips and position of the commissures must be maintained. The upper lip esthetic unit can be divided into subunits, as described by Burget and Menick. If a large part of a subunit is removed, replacement of the entire subunit rather than simple reconstruction of the defect often gives a better esthetic result (Burget). The best tissue for esthetic reconstruction of a full thickness defect of the upper lip is the lower lip. We apply Burget's principles to raise an Abbé flap, which is transferred in two stages. This approach is illustrated by 5 patients operated by this technique. Finally, this technique is compared to other techniques allowing reconstruction of the upper hemilip.