Retroauricular secondary island flap.

A new method consisting of conversion of the retroauricular skin into an axial flap is described. During the first stage the superficial temporal vessels are transposed under the skin of the retroauricular region. The second operative step consists of elevation of the retroauricular-mastoid skin on the dissected axial pedicle. The secondary island flaps proved to be efficient in the repair of small and medium-sized defects of the facial region.