Pedicled Flaps
A pedicled flap is a technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery where any type of tissue is lifted from a donor site and moved to a nearby recipient site with an intact blood supply. This is distinct from a graft, which does not have an intact blood supply and therefore relies on growth of new blood vessels. Pedicled flaps can be converted to free flaps depending on the needs of the reconstruction.
Free Flaps
A free flap is a technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery where any type of tissue is lifted and completely detached from its original location (donor site) and transplanted to another distant location (recipient site). This is distinct from a pedicled flap, in that the transplanted tissue is completely detached from its blood supply at the original location and requires reconnection of an artery and vein at the recipient site to re-establish circulation.
