Philosophy on the closing of facial defects: Choosing the right procedure

The reconstruction of defects created from the treatment of skin cancer can be extremely challenging based on endless variability in location, size and depth. This article attempts to synthesize major principles into a guide with which to approach skin cancer reconstruction. Three major areas are addressed when planning a reconstructive strategy and these include: general principles of head and neck reconstruction and defect closure, patient-specific factors, and lesion-specific factors.