For a free forearm flap, skin and tissue from the forearm are removed with surgery, along with blood vessels. The flap can be reattached to another part of the body. In this example, it is used to rebuild part of the tongue that was removed to treat cancer:
(A) The flap is created by removing tissue and blood vessels.
(B) Once it is removed, the flap is cut to fit the area it will move to.
(C) Then, the flap is moved to its new location. It is reattached after the blood vessels are connected nearby.