Total Reconstruction of the Upper Lip Using Bilateral Modified Gillies Fan Flaps following Complete Resection for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The upper lip plays a key role in oral function as well as facial expressions. The surgical treatment of a large rapidly growing tumor, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), of the upper lip is challenging. The resection of the tumor must be radical, despite the outcome of radical surgery and the following reconstruction surgery may impair the functional as well as the aesthetic outcome. We present a case of a SCC including the entire upper lip and resection leading to a total full thickness defect followed by reconstruction with modified Gillies fan flaps in a two-stage procedure. The case illustrates that total reconstruction of the upper lip can be done successfully by bilateral modified Gilles fan flaps. Furthermore, the case shows the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, the importance of communication with the patient and the seriousness and possible fatal outcome of the disease.