Lip Reconstruction

About Lip Reconstruction

Lip reconstruction is a surgical procedure to rebuild or repair the lips after they’ve been affected by:

Cancer surgery
Injuries or trauma
Infections or burns

Why Use the Fibula?

The lips are crucial for:

Speech
Eating & drinking
Facial expression
Aesthetic appearance

When part of the lip is lost or damaged, it can affect both function and confidence. Reconstruction helps restore normalcy and quality of life.

Surgical Options for Lip Reconstruction

The choice of surgery depends on the size, location, and depth of the defect, as well as whether
it involves the upper or lower lip, one or both sides, and surrounding structures like the cheek or
nose.
Let’s break it down by defect size and technique:

1. Primary Closure (Simple Stitching)

Used for Small defects (usually <1/3 of the lip width)
The remaining lip is gently stretched and stitched together
Preserves function and shape well if the defect is small
No extra tissue is needed

2. Local Flaps (Tissue Rearrangement Nearby)

Used for Medium-sized defects (up to 1/2 the lip)
Tissue from areas next to the lip (cheek, chin) is rotated or moved to fill the
gap

Common local flaps include:

Abbe Flap (Cross-Lip Flap)

Tissue is borrowed from the opposite lip
Good for central lip defects
A second surgery is done to separate the flap once healing begins

Estlander Flap

Used for defects at the corner of the mouth
Tissue from the other lip is rotated to restore shape and opening of the
mouth

Karapandzic Flap

A circular advancement of tissue that preserves nerve and muscle function
Good for maintaining movement and sensation

3. Regional Flaps (Tissue from Nearby Face)

Tissue is borrowed from closer but not immediately adjacent areas (like the
cheek)
Used when more tissue is needed to cover large lip defects
Example: Nasolabial flap (tissue from the area beside the nose)

4. Free Flap Reconstruction (Microsurgery)

Used for: Very large or complex defects
Tissue is taken from a distant part of the body (like forearm, thigh, or tongue)
and reconnected under a microscope
Requires microsurgical skill to connect tiny blood vessels and nerves