Propeller flap for reconstruction of the tubercle of the upper lip.

A technique is presented for the correction of the whistling deformity of the upper lip, which is commonly seen in patients with repaired bilateral cleft lip. Two opposing transposition flaps based on the central portion of the upper vermilion are used. The shape of these flaps resembles a two-bladed propeller, thus we call the technique the "propeller flap". Each of the blades is rotated 180 degrees and the resulting dog-ear helps to add volume to the upper lip tubercle. Some representative cases are presented.