Head & Neck reconstruction is often required post-cancer excision or post-traumatic event. The aims of reconstruction are to compartmentalize head and neck spaces, wound coverage, restoration of organ competence, and reestablishment of form. The reconstruction would involve either a local flap (from adjacent tissue) or a vascularised composite tissue graft (free flap). Free flap has become the gold standard of head & neck reconstruction since the introduction of microsurgery as a considerable number of patients would need radiation therapy.
Dr Hsieh undertook a one-year microsurgery fellowship post general plastic surgery training in one of the best microsurgery centres in the world.