Visor flap for total upper and lower lip reconstruction: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Noma, aptly named the 'face of poverty', is a scourge with a mortality rate of up to 90% that affects some 140,000 people each year, predominantly children in the sub-Saharan 'noma belt'. Survivors of the acute attack suffer severe facial disfigurement from loss of facial tissue and scarring. Surgical reconstruction of noma defects is a major challenge, especially in Africa, where the majority of cases occur. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 40-year-old Somali man who presented with severe facial disfigurement, including total absence of both upper and lower lips. After a failed initial reconstruction, a combination of platysma flaps and a left deltopectoral flap provided mucosal lining, while a scalp visor flap served to recreate upper and lower lips, the beard and moustache. CONCLUSION: The scalp visor flap offers a simple but extremely versatile tool for use in midfacial reconstruction, especially in the male, providing neo-lip tissue, a moustache and a beard. This is the first report of a simultaneous total upper and lower lip reconstruction using a scalp visor flap, in the English literature. We also emphasize on a process of transfer of skills to enable local surgeons to effectively manage the challenge that noma presents.