A skin flap is a piece of skin (often with underlying fat and sometimes fascia or muscle) moved to a nearby or distant area. Unlike a skin graft, a skin flap keeps its own blood supply, either through a “pedicle” or reconnected vessels. It is used in reconstructive plastic surgery to cover defects and restore form and function. It can also be part of cosmetic procedures where skin is lifted, repositioned, and re-draped.

Contracture release is a procedure (or set of procedures) designed to loosen tissue that has tightened and restricted movement or distorted shape. It most often targets scar tissue, a tight capsule around an implant, or shortened skin and soft tissue after injury or surgery. The goal is to restore function (range of motion) and/or improve contour and symmetry. It is used in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, depending on the cause and location.

fasciotomy is a surgical procedure that cuts through fascia, the firm connective tissue that surrounds muscles and other structures. Its primary goal is to reduce abnormal pressure within a closed “compartment” of the body or to release tight fascial tissue. It is most commonly used in emergency and reconstructive settings, including trauma care and limb surgery. It is not typically a cosmetic procedure, but plastic and reconstructive surgeons may perform fasciotomy as part of complex wound and limb management.

escharotomy is a surgical incision made through stiff, burned skin (eschar) to relieve pressure. It is most commonly used in burn care when circumferential (all-the-way-around) burns restrict blood flow or breathing. It is considered an urgent, function-preserving procedure rather than a cosmetic one. It is frequently performed by burn, trauma, or plastic and reconstructive surgery teams.

burn excision is a surgical procedure that removes burned, non-viable (dead) skin and soft tissue. It is used to create a cleaner, viable wound bed that can heal or be reconstructed. It is most commonly performed in reconstructive burn care, and it can affect cosmetic appearance as healing and scarring evolve. It is often paired with skin grafting or other coverage techniques to restore skin continuity.

Acellular dermal matrix is a processed tissue scaffold made from dermis with living cells removed. It is designed to support the body’s own tissue ingrowth and healing over time. In plastic surgery, it is commonly used in both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. It is most widely discussed in breast surgery but also appears in other soft-tissue repairs.

A dermal matrix is a scaffold-like material used to support, replace, or reinforce soft tissue. It is commonly used in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to add coverage, strength, or contour. Many dermal matrix products are processed from human or animal dermis, or made from synthetic polymers. Its role is typically supportive rather than “filling” like an injectable.

A skin substitute is a material used to cover, protect, or help rebuild areas where skin has been lost or removed. It can be biologic (from human or animal tissue) or synthetic (man-made). It is commonly used in reconstructive and burn care, and sometimes in plastic surgery wound coverage after procedures. The goal is to support healing when the body cannot close the wound quickly on its own.

A supraclavicular flap is a piece of skin and soft tissue taken from the area just above the collarbone (clavicle) and moved to repair another area. It is most often a reconstructive technique used for head and neck defects, including skin, lining, or soft-tissue coverage. It stays connected to its original blood supply in many cases, which helps the transferred tissue survive. It may also be used in selected cosmetic or scar-related situations where similar skin coverage is needed.

A nasolabial flap is a piece of nearby facial skin and soft tissue moved to repair another area. It is taken from the nasolabial fold region (the natural crease running from the side of the nose toward the corner of the mouth). It is a surgical technique used most often in reconstructive plastic surgery and sometimes in select cosmetic contexts. Its goal is to restore coverage, contour, and sometimes internal lining using tissue that closely matches the face.

A paramedian forehead flap is a surgical skin-and-soft-tissue flap taken from the forehead and moved to reconstruct another area. It remains attached to its blood supply (a “pedicle”) during the initial healing period. It is most commonly used in reconstructive nasal surgery, especially after skin cancer removal, trauma, or complex nasal defects. It can be used in reconstructive practice and may also influence cosmetic appearance as part of restoring facial balance.

A bilobed flap is a local skin flap used to close a nearby surgical defect by moving adjacent skin. It is designed as two connected “lobes” of skin that rotate (transpose) into the wound in a planned sequence. It is most commonly used in facial reconstruction, especially on the nose, after removal of a lesion. It is primarily a reconstructive technique, but it is often discussed in cosmetic contexts because it affects visible facial contours and scarring.

A transposition flap is a surgical technique that moves nearby skin and soft tissue to cover a wound or defect. The tissue is lifted on its blood supply and rotated or “swung” over an area of intact skin into the defect. It is most commonly used in reconstructive surgery (for example after skin cancer removal or trauma). It can also be used in cosmetic-oriented repairs where scar placement and contour are important.

A rotation flap is a **surgical** method of closing a wound or defect using nearby skin and soft tissue. The tissue is lifted and **rotated** into the defect while staying attached at one side to preserve blood supply. It is commonly used in **reconstructive plastic surgery** and is also relevant in cosmetically sensitive areas like the face. Its goal is to replace “like with like” by moving adjacent tissue rather than importing distant tissue.

An advancement flap is a surgical method that moves nearby skin and soft tissue straight forward to cover a wound or defect. It is a type of “local flap,” meaning the tissue comes from an area directly adjacent to the site being repaired. It is used in both reconstructive and cosmetic-focused surgery to restore contour, symmetry, and function. It is commonly discussed in facial reconstruction (including after skin cancer removal) and in closure of surgical defects elsewhere on the body.

A local flap is a piece of nearby tissue that is moved to cover or repair a defect while staying attached to its original blood supply. It is created by making planned incisions and repositioning skin and/or deeper tissue into an adjacent wound. Local flap surgery is used in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery to restore shape, function, or skin coverage. It is commonly discussed in facial reconstruction (such as after skin cancer removal) and in repair of traumatic or surgical wounds.

A composite graft is a piece of tissue transferred from one body area to another that contains more than one tissue type, such as skin plus cartilage. It is placed without a dedicated blood vessel connection, so it must “take” by receiving nutrients from the surrounding recipient site. In plastic surgery, composite graft is used in both reconstructive and cosmetic settings, especially for small, structurally complex areas like the nose, ear, and eyelid.

A full-thickness skin graft is a piece of skin that includes the entire epidermis and the full dermis. It is moved from a donor site to cover a defect at a separate recipient site. It is used in reconstructive surgery and, in selected cases, cosmetic surgery to restore skin coverage and contour. It is most commonly used for smaller defects where color, texture, and durability matter.

A split-thickness skin graft is a surgical transfer of the top layers of skin from one area of the body to another. It includes the epidermis and a portion of the dermis. It is commonly used in reconstructive surgery to cover wounds that cannot be closed directly. It can also be used in selected cosmetic and scar-revision contexts when skin coverage is needed.

A skin graft is a piece of skin moved from one area of the body to another to cover a wound or defect. It is most often used when skin is missing and cannot be closed with stitches alone. In plastic surgery, it is used in both reconstructive care (repair after injury or cancer) and some cosmetic contexts (restoring skin coverage and contour). The transferred skin must “take” by attaching to the new site and establishing a blood supply.