Are there different options when it comes to breast reconstruction?
Academic Title: Assistant Professor
Board Certifications:
Surgery
There are many different options to review when considering breast reconstruction. The two main types of reconstruction include 1) using a breast implant (silicone- or saline filled) and 2) your own tissue.
Implants: Saline and silicone gel implants are both commonly used for breast reconstruction. When using an implant, a plastic surgeon usually first places a tissue expander in the breast cavity. This is often done at the same time as the mastectomy but can be done later in women who decide to postpone their reconstruction. The tissue expander is then gradually inflated over the following weeks and later exchanged for the final saline or silicone implant in a second procedure.
Tissue Flaps: If you don't feel comfortable with having an artificial implant, often your own tissue can be used to re-create the breast. This procedure involves moving tissue (skin, fat, and sometimes muscle) from other parts of the body to the chest to re-create a new breast. There are numerous different types of tissue flap procedures. Some of the many procedures which are offered by our Jefferson plastic surgeons are listed below:
DIEP Flap: A newer type of tissue flap surgery, the DIEP flap (deep inferior epigastric perforator) uses skin and fat taken from your lower abdomen to create a new breast. The results are similar to a "tummy tuck." This method requires use of a microscope and no abdominal muscle is removed during the surgery. With a DIEP patients often experience less pain and recover faster than with a traditional TRAM flap.
PAP Flap: The profunda artery perforator, or PAP flap, is also newer type of microsurgical breast reconstruction technique being offered at Jefferson. The PAP flap makes use of the excess tissue of the posterior upper thigh to re-create a breast.
Latissimus Dorsi Flap: The latissimus dorsi flap involves taking muscle and skin from your back to recreate a new breast. Often times, this technique is used in combination with an implant to provide additional breast volume.
TRAM Flap: The TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous) uses muscle, fat and skin from your lower abdomen to reconstruct the breast. This technique may be done either as a rotated or pedicled flap or as a free (microsurgical) flap.
SGAP Flap & IGAP Flap: These flap procedures use skin and fat removed from your upper or lower buttock. Similar to the DIEP, a microscope is used to supply bloodflow to the tissue.
SIEA Flap: The SIEA flap (superficial inferior epigastric artery) also uses tissue from your lower abdomen to re-create a new breast. Like a DIEP flap, no abdominal muscle is moved.