Single-stage reconstruction of alar defect of the nose by subcutaneous island nasolabial and remnant alar flap

Abstract

A single-stage technique for reconstruction of the medial nasal ala with a nasolabial flap and an inferiorly based remnant alar flap is presented in this article. The technique has been used in four cases. All the flaps healed uneventfully with aesthetically pleasing results using the one-stage technique. The subcutaneous nasolabial island flap and alar remnant flap have become the method of choice in the author’s clinic for partial medial nasal ala reconstruction. It allows one-stage reconstruction with very similar tissue and a concealed scar in the natural groove. The remnant ala as an inferiorly based flap has been used by the author to cover the subcutaneous pedicle of the nasolabial flap to provide better shape to the alar base without its lateral drift during healing.