"A man had given all other bliss and all lies worldly warmth for this to make his whole heart in one kiss upon her perfect lips"

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere

Restoration of form and function following losses of the upper and lower lips poses a formidable challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. First, the defect has to be defined with respect to the extent of the mucosal and skin defects. The complex symmetry of the upper lip must be reestablished without disturbing the surrounding anatomical features such as the alar base area, the nasolabial region or the oral commissure. Lip shortening or tightening should be avoided, whenever possible. Goals in lower lip reconstruction include restoration of symmetry, normal contours and normal function thus avoiding embarrassing drooling or difficulty with articulation.

This poster will present an algorithmic approach to reconstruction of upper and lower lip and commisural losses. Techniques include mucosal advancement flaps (rhomboid, V-Y), direct closure (V, pentagonal), perialar crescent advancement flaps, Abbe flap, Karapandzic flap, and modified Webster cheek advancement techniques.