The most common indication for free flap surgery is breast reconstruction. Deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps are safe, quick and provide excellent cosmetic results. The reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients is more complex. The aims are preservation of function and appearance. Free flaps are important in traumatology and the timing of intervention can make the difference between amputation and extremity conserving treatment. Due to the improvement in surgical technique failure rates as low as 2% can be seen. Post-operative monitoring is well-established in all microsurgical centres.