M-Plasty
Simple Plastic Repairs
Single and Double M-Plasty
An M-plasty is an excision that decreases the length of an ellipse. It is useful when space is limited at the end of an excision line by an important structure (see diagram). It may also be a useful way of repairing dog ears.
Technique
- Mark out an ellipse where practicable. Imagine folding in the tip of one or both ends.
- Cut along marked lines.
- Close wound with deep buried sutures.
- Suture skin with interrupted sutures, first along straight part then V section using a 3 point suture.