Aesthetic Restoration in Central Facial Basal Cell Carcinoma: Surgical Excision and Flap Techniques

Background: Basal cell carcinoma, also referred to as rodent ulcer is the most common skin cancer seen worldwide. It is a slow-growing tumour that rarely metastases. Basal cell carcinoma is rarely fatal, but it can cause significant damage and disfigurement of nearby tissues if treatment is delayed. The first line of treatment is surgical excision, followed by primary repair of the defect. The face is the most commonly affected site with skin tumours. Thus, locoregional flaps are commonly used for the closure of defects due to their good texture and colour match. Skin flap techniques like transpositional flaps, advancement flaps or rotational flaps can be used to close facial defects. Aim: This study aims to outline the different categories of flaps that can be used for reconstruction after resection of facial basal cell carcinoma and their advantages and disadvantages. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the patients who underwent surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma followed by reconstruction with different local fasciocutaneous flaps. Results: This study describes cases of facial defects following basal cell carcinoma excision surgery closed with different flaps. All the patients were followed up for 6 months post-excision and showed acceptable functional and cosmetic results. All the flaps were healthy without any complications. Conclusion: Based on our observations, local flaps yield acceptable outcomes for facial restoration following surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma. Depending on the area involved, different flap techniques can be used to improve cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction.