Versatile Use of Submental Tissue for Reconstruction of Perioral Soft Tissue Defects

Between February 2001 and April 2008, 14 patients (8 men and 6 women, average age 44) underwent reconstruction of perioral soft tissue defects using submental tissues. The defects were caused by bites, accidents, and tumors and were located on the upper lip, mentum, oral commissure, and buccal cheek. Various reconstruction techniques were used, including composite grafts, local advancement flaps, pedicled flaps, and free flaps. The follow-up period ranged from 9 months to 5 years, with no major complications reported. All transplanted tissues survived, aesthetic results were satisfactory, donor-site scars were inconspicuous, and there was no restriction of neck motion. In male patients, hair restoration on the flap was excellent. The study concluded that submental tissue is a suitable donor site for perioral soft tissue reconstruction due to its color and texture match with perioral skin and minimal donor-site morbidity.