Reconstruction of a Sideburn by a Rotated Flap

In 1979, Dr. Jack E. Sebben and Dr. Roger I. Ceilley described a method for reconstructing a sideburn using a rotated flap from the supra-auricular region, which provides immediate hair coverage in a single surgical procedure. This technique was applied to a patient who had suffered alopecia on the right sideburn due to a severe burn from a natural gas explosion. The rotated flap method was chosen over hair transplantation by punch grafts due to the latter's disadvantages, such as poor hair growth in scar tissue, the need for multiple sessions, and delayed hair coverage. The flap, with a good blood supply from the temporal artery, was less likely to cause hair follicles to enter telogen effluvium, a common issue with grafts. The design allowed for a natural, forward and downward hair angle, resulting in a smooth appearance and a hidden scar. The patient's postoperative results at 4.5 months showed a natural-looking sideburn with a hidden scar, demonstrating the effectiveness of the flap procedure.