local flap

In medicine, a local flap is a type of tissue transplant used in plastic surgery to repair defects. Unlike a skin graft, which is a thin layer of skin taken from one area and placed onto another, a flap is a thicker segment of tissue that includes skin, fat, and sometimes muscle, all while maintaining its own blood supply.1

This preserved blood supply is crucial, as it allows the flap to survive when transferred to the recipient site. Local flaps are particularly valuable when larger areas of tissue, including fat, have been lost. They can be used to cover exposed bone, improve movement in contracted joints, or reconstruct parts of the body like a nose. The term "plastic surgery" itself comes from the Greek word plastikos, meaning "to mold" or "to form," reflecting the goal of reshaping and restoring tissue.12