Relaxed skin tension lines

The lines along which the skin is under least tension, running at right angles to the pull of the underlying muscles and visible as furrows when the skin is pinched. An ellipse placed along them closes with less tension and heals with a thinner, less conspicuous scar.

Related terms

• Glossary

  Surgical margin

  The rim of normal-looking tissue removed around a tumour so that its microscopic extensions are included. The clinical margin is measured on the skin before excision; the histological margin is the distance from the tumour to the cut edge under the microscope, usually reported as clear (at least 1 mm), close (under 1 mm) or involved.

• Procedure

  Local flap

  A piece of skin and underlying tissue moved from next to a wound into the wound while it stays attached to its own blood supply. Because the skin comes from the same area, its colour and thickness match well. Common types are advancement, rotation and transposition flaps.

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