- Delayed flap transfer involves partially raising a flap and dividing some of its blood supply at a preliminary stage to deliver a sublethal ischemic insult, stimulating vessel dilation, ischemic preconditioning, and neovascularization. - This allows for axialization of blood flow and conditioning of flap tissues to lower oxygen levels before full transfer, improving vascularity and survival. - Surgical delay specifically refers to segmentally interrupting blood supply to tissue like skin or muscle in stages over time to gradually extend vascular inflow to the distal flap portion.