The use of mimetic musculature in facial reconstruction.

Skin malignancy of all types is prevalent in Australia and the incidence is rising. Reconstruction of post-surgical excision defects in the face can be facilitated by the use of myocutaneous flaps using facial mimetic musculature. The mimetic musculature can be partially sacrificed without the loss of discernible facial tone or expression. Examples of their use include the frontalis, orbicularis oculi, nasalis, procerus, levator labii superioris, mentalis, orbicularis oris, platysma and SMAS. Myocutaneous flaps in the face enjoy the same advantages of increased skin viability as they do elsewhere in the body. Their use in the face is superior to the cosmetic results obtained by skin grafting alone or distant skin flap giving better colour match, increased vascularity and appropriate bulk when subcutaneous tissues and muscles have also been sacrificed in the initial extirpation of the skin malignancy.