The utility of the use of flaps for the correction of body alterations in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery

Background: Significant skin lesions with substantial tissue loss require flap coverage to fully restore the tissue defect. Several factors must be evaluated to select the appropriate flap, including the defect size, functionality of the involved body part, patient comorbidities, surrounding structures, etiology of the tissue defect, vascularization type, donor site condition, recipient site condition, and the required type of tissue mobilization. This article will review the most recent information on flaps, offering an initial assessment tool for decision-making during tissue defect closure. Additionally, it provides an overview about Mexico’s epidemiology, highlighting the most frequent indications for flap use. Keywords: Flaps, reconstructive surgery.