New perioral arterial flaps: anatomic study and clinical application.

We studied the vascular anatomy of the perioral region by dissecting fresh cadavers. The anatomy of perioral branches of the facial artery consistently confirmed the existence of a septal branch and an alar branch to the upper lip and a vertical labiomental branch to the lower lip. New regional flaps supplied by these perioral arterial branches are proposed in this paper. The mucosal flap from the upper lip supplied by the deep septal branch or the alar branch of facial artery can be used to restore lower lip defects. A composite flap from the lower lip supplied by the vertical labiomental branch of the facial artery can be used safely to restore combined defects of the upper lip and nose or partial defects of the lower lip.