Flap (surgery)

Flap surgery is a technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery where tissue with an intact blood supply is lifted from a donor site and moved to a recipient site. Flaps are distinct from grafts, which do not have an intact blood supply and relies on the growth of new blood vessels. Flaps are done to fill a defect such as a wound resulting from injury or surgery when the remaining tissue is unable to support a graft, wound contraction is to be avoided or to rebuild more complex anatomic structures like breasts or jaws. Flaps may also carry with them tissues such as muscle and bone that may be useful in the ultimate reconstruction.