Intraoral flap depilation using the long-pulsed alexandrite laser

Abstract

A multitude of skin flaps are used to reconstruct defects following the surgical resection of head and neck cancers. Skin imported from distant sites to provide intraoral coverage often contains hair-bearing skin, which can create a problem following reconstruction of the oropharynx. Patients with hairy intraoral flaps often present with irritation, pooling of saliva and trapping of food. In this article, we report, for the first time, a treatment for the removal of hair from intraoral flaps using a long-pulsed alexandrite laser.