Reconstruction of Large Alopecia with Old Technique: V-Y-S Plasty

In the 2014 case report, the V-Y-S plasty technique was successfully used for the reconstruction of a large alopecia area measuring 9×6×4 cm² on the scalp of a 22-year-old male patient who had suffered a burn injury. This one-stage surgical method, which was first reported in 1974, was chosen over the two-stage tissue expansion procedure that is commonly used for large defects but is more complex and has a longer recovery time. The V-Y-S plasty involved creating triangular flaps near the defect, rotating and advancing them towards each other, and suturing the opposing margins together. The patient did not experience flap necrosis or any other complications post-surgery. The authors concluded that V-Y-S plasty is a superior and safe alternative for medium or large-sized scalp defect or alopecia reconstruction, providing an adequate hair-bearing scalp with good color and superior tissue match, without the formation of dog-ears, pin-cushioning, or distortion.