Reconstructive modalities in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Versatility of Buccal Fat Pad in Oral Reconstruction

A number of surgical procedures have been advocatedfor the reconstruction of defects in the oral cavityafter ablative surgery. This includes primaryclosures, skin grafts, local regional and distantflaps. The choice of a flap for reconstruction isgoverned by the type and size of defects and theadvantages and disadvantages of the variousreconstructive options.A large number of local methods have beensuccessfully employed for intraoral reconstructionsuch as oral mucosal flaps, my mucosal island flaps,tongue flaps, local muscular flaps such as temporalisor sternoceiodomastoid transfer and buccal fat pad. The use of a pedicled BFP graft is a logical,convenient, and reliable method for reconstruction oforal defects up to 4 cm in diameter on theipsilateral side of the soft palate and posterioralveolar ridge of the maxilla. It can also be used inconjunction with other local flaps and with regionalmyofascial flaps. Since both donor and recipientsites are in the oral cavity there is no visible scarin the donor area.