Background: The V-Y island advancement flap is a useful reconstruction technique for nasal alar defects, but flap mobility is limited by the insertion of the muscles of facial expression into the dermis of the alae.
Objective: To describe a V-Y muscle sling myocutaneous island advancement flap (SMIAF) for improved mobility and intrasubunit reconstruction of alar defects.
Materials and methods: A retrospective review of patient records and preoperative and postoperative photographs was performed on all patients with alar defects repaired with the SMIAF between April 2008 and October 2017. Patients and physicians rated aesthetic outcomes with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS).
Results: A total of 18 nasal alar defects were repaired with the SMIAF after Mohs micrographic surgery. All defects were located on the anterior two-thirds of the alar lobule and had a mean surface area of 0.42 ± 0.19 cm. No patients experienced flap necrosis. Patients and 3 independent dermatologic surgeons rated favorable aesthetic outcomes.
Conclusion: The SMIAF is a reliable reconstruction option with good aesthetic outcomes for small defects on the anterior two-thirds of the nasal ala.