Use of Free Internal Mammary Artery Perforator Flap Harvested With Minimally Invasive Approach for Facial Reconstruction: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

The internal mammary artery perforator (IMAP) flap has been widely used for chest wall and neck reconstruction. The color of its skin paddle closely resembles that of facial skin, making it attractive for facial reconstruction. However, there has been insufficient investigations reporting the use of free IMAP flap. Furthermore, even in such studies, somewhat invasive procedures, including rib cartilage resection, were employed to ensure sufficient pedicle length, potentially increasing donor morbidity. Our report presents two cases of successful facial defect reconstruction using a free IMAP flap harvested with minimal donor site damage, showing its feasibility. In the first case, a 48-year-old male underwent wide excision for a malignant melanoma on his right cheek, resulting in a 4 × 4.5 cm full-thickness defect. A free IMAP flap with a 2.5 cm pedicle, was harvested without rib cartilage resection, preserving IMA main trunk, and transferred with anastomosed to the angular vessels within the defect. The second patient presented with a 4.5 × 3.5 cm basal cell carcinoma on the left cheek, necessitating wide excision and leaving a 6 × 5 cm defect. A free IMAP flap was harvested with the same approach and successfully reconstructed the defect with connected to the superficial temporal vessels using vascular bridge. Both patients were discharged complication-free, with no recurrence during 24 and 15 months of follow-up, respectively. They were highly satisfied with the final skin color and texture outcomes. Harvesting a free IMAP flap while minimizing donor morbidity may offer an attractive option for facial reconstruction.