The gingivobuccal flap (taken from the mouth)
A mucosal flap taken from the mouth, under the upper lip, for holes just behind the columella, the small column between the nostrils. It is often done during revision rhinoplasty.
Written by the Septal Perforation team, patients, from the sources cited · Reviewed by doctors · Updated 2 November 2026 · Method and sources
In brief
For holes just behind the columella.
Often during revision rhinoplasty.
Oral mucosa does not produce nasal mucus: crusts are possible.
The principle
The tissue comes from the mouth, under the upper lip, and is passed into the nose to cover the hole. It uses no nasal mucosa.
Source: Göde, ch. 18, in Alobid (ed.), Septal Perforation Repair, Springer 2026.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
Published results
The chapter presents one author's experience; no series comparable with other techniques.
Published series come from very experienced teams: they are ceilings, not promises. [[success-rates|The real success rates ›]]
Note before the consultation
Questions to ask the surgeon
- Is my hole really just behind the columella?
- How can crusting be limited with this tissue?
- How many times a year do you perform this technique, and with what closure rate at 1 year? (All the questions: the guide.)
Frequently asked questions
Why crusts?
Mouth mucosa is made for saliva, not for humidifying air: it does not produce the mucus of the nose.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these publications. The year is the year of publication.
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