Submental skin graft: A useful donor site for facial skin defects

Abstract

Full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) are commonly employed for resurfacing facial reconstruction. Donor sites matching in color and texture are limited to a few facial locations such as the eyelids, pre- and postauricular and nasolabial regions. However, they offer limited amounts of skin and the donor site morbidities are not always well tolerated. On the other hand, submental area provides equally matching skin substance in a comfortably large amount, especially in elderly individuals. We are presenting our experience in 20 patients with reconstruction with submental FTSG’s following facial tumor ablation. Except for one patient, all grafts achieved full take. There were no donor site related complaints; moreover, the patients were very pleased about the submental cervical lifting effect imposed by the technique. Submental region is a suitable FTSG donor side when considering resurfacing facial defects of the elderly female patients and male patients in whom a hair-bearing site needs to be resurfaced.