A technical note for the use of small-diameter cannula for lipoaspiration technique in aesthetic reconstructive post-oncological surgery

Skin cancer basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a quite common lesion with a worldwide annual incidence between 3% and 8%. Tissue reconstruction should be biologically driven: nowadays, the naso-genial flap is one of the safest and usable flaps for the reconstruction of the labial and nasal region after invasive surgery aimed at a full BCC excision. In fact, the proximity of this flap to the area to be treated, the similar colour of the skin and the technical possibility to perform a single surgery to both harvest the flap and remove the lesion in the area to be then reconstructed, make it highly preferred by surgeons. In order to prevent the most severe swelling, the Authors started to use a novel method consisting in the use of the small-diameter cannula for lipoaspiration technique (SDCL). The correct use of SDCL allows to aspirate the adipose tissue, thus obtaining an available adipose-based scaffold, highly compatible with the area in which the flap is to be placed.