Facial Reconstructive Surgery: Labial and Buccal Defects

Dogs are graced with large upper labial and buccal surfaces which facilitate closure of moderate sized defects. Cats, with their more refined facial conformation, lack the fullness and elasticity of the canine lips and cheeks. While dogs generally present with the greater number of wounds and oral neoplasms of the lips and cheeks, the following techniques employed by the author are equally applicable to the dog and cat. Selection of the most appropriate method of closure is based on the size and location of the defect, the donor tissues available for closure, and the inherent tissue elasticity unique to the species, breed and individual patient.