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Shan R. Baker, MD

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Defects of the Nose, Lip, and Cheek: Rebuilding the Composite Defect 

Frederick J. Menick, MD

Background:  The face can be divided into regions (units) with characteristic skin quality, border outline, and three-dimensional contour. A defect may lie entirely within a single major unit or encompass several adjacent units, creating unique problems for repair. Composite defects overlap two or more facial units. Nasal defects often extend into the adjacent lip and cheek. The simplest solution may appear to be [sic] to simply "fill the hole"—just replace the missing bulk. Poor contour, incorrect dimension, malposition, asymmetry, poor blending into adjacent normal tissues, and a patch-like repair often follow.

Methods:  The following principles of regional unit repair were applied to guide these complex reconstructions: (1) reconstruct units, not defects; (2) alter the wound in site, size, shape, and depth; (3) consider using separate . . . [Full Text of this Article]