The use of the fat-cutaneous neck flap in reconstruction of the face injured by burns.

The face is a part of the body that is frequently affected by burn injury. Post-burn scar sequelae in this area often result in invalidity and psychological upsets for the patients. The methods of plastic surgery widely employed have their drawbacks. In particular, it is very important for surgical reconstruction of the face to find plastic material with the same properties: texture, colour, thickness, and natural elasticity. For this purpose, at the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, A.V. Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery, Russian Academy of Medical Science, we use the fat-cutaneous neck flap mobilized according to the anatomical distribution of the vessels. We describe some typical clinical situations and possible variants of plastic surgery using the neck flap, based on the experience of surgical treatment in 248 patients. It is our opinion that application of the neck flap is preferable to other reconstructive techniques in the lower part of the face in patients with preserved skin in the neck and anterior surface of the chest.