Transformation of the glabellar flap into an island flap

Abstract

Glabellar flaps have traditionally been used to cover nasal skin and soft tissue defects. The narrowing of its vascular pedicle to the cutaneous arterial branch of the angular artery categorizing it as an axial flap pattern. Three cases are presented, the first of which typifies the standard glabellar flap with an intact skin and subcutaneous pedicle. The other two cases utilize a glabellar island flap based on a subcutaneous pedicle containing cutaneous arterial branch of the angular artery. This technique extends the mobility of this flap to allow one-stage reconstruction of adjacent defects.