Craniofacial soft tissue reconstruction
Treatment options in Shanghai

Direct closure brings the wound edges together. It may be appropriate when enough suitable surrounding skin is available, but the choice is not determined by wound width alone. Ask the surgeon to explain what bringing the edges together would mean for nearby facial structures, the direction of the scar and the function you want to preserve. A scar that is longer than the visible defect may still be part of a planned closure. Obtain an explanation of the actual design rather than judging a procedure only by the smallest promised incision.

A skin graft is separated from a donor area and placed over the defect. The donor area also needs care, so ask where it would be, how it would be closed and what discomfort or visible mark might remain. A graft can differ from the surrounding facial skin in colour or contour, including a residual depression. Protecting it during healing matters. Ask why the receiving wound is considered suitable and how the team will assess healing. The aim is useful coverage in your circumstances, not a guarantee that transplanted skin will look identical to the original.

A local flap moves nearby tissue while preserving its connection to a blood supply. This is different from simply transferring a detached skin graft. The surgeon must also address the area from which the tissue moves; sometimes that area needs additional coverage. Ask which tissue would move, what scars it creates and whether more than one operation is anticipated. A local-flap leaflet does not describe every free-tissue transfer or complex microsurgical reconstruction. If a more extensive method is recommended, request a separate explanation of its purpose, donor-site effects and alternatives.