Background: The submental flap is an alternative repair technique in the maxillo-
facial region when microsurgical reconstruction is not required or is difficult
to apply. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the benefits of restoring the
cheeks with an extended pedicled submental flap.
Method: Eight patients aged 58 to 81 years with cheek cancer presented to the
surgery department at the Benha University Hospital in Egypt, from May 2019 to
October 2021 for the removal of their tumors and reconstruction of the resulting
defects, using the extended submental perforator plus pedicled artery flap.
Results: The average blood loss was 250 cm3 (range: 50–400 cm3). The average
operation took 3 hours to complete, including excision and rebuilding (a range
of 2.5 to 3.5 hours). The length of the postoperative hospital stay was 2 to 4 days.
Fortunately, there was no complete flap loss; nonetheless, distal flap necrosis in
one case left a raw area, which was allowed to heal naturally, and hemorrhages in
two cases were conservatively handled.
Conclusions: For the reconstruction of cheek abnormalities, the submental
flap is a viable alternative, particularly in older patients or patients whose overall
health has declined and who need less severe therapies and quicker surgery.
The submental flap, which conceals the donor site, provides a dependable supply
of skin for facial resurfacing with excellent color, shape, and texture matching.
The flap is quick, and easy to raise. (Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2023; 11:e4997;
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004997; Published online 22 May 2023.)