The application of hair-bearing flaps in head and neck surgery.

The history of hair-bearing flaps is presented. A study of the vascular supply of the scalp with a particular emphasis on the posterior branch of the superficial temporal artery revealed that it was possible to transpose the entire scalp or any hair-bearing flap on a long, highly mobile, narrow pedicle containing this vessel. Clinical application of this finding to postexcisional defects allowed the reconstruction of hairline, eyebrows, sideburns, and various shapes of beards and moustaches. The technique was used on 80 occasions to produce various cosmetic units and proved to be a safe procedure.