Alternative Donor Sites for Breast Reconstruction

Alternative Donor Sites for Breast Reconstruction

  • Overview
  • Procedures
  • Appointments
  • Locations
  • Doctors

    • Once you have decided that breast reconstruction surgery is right for you, you and your plastic surgeon will discuss which surgery options may be best for you. Some reconstruction options are flap procedures, which use tissue from a different area of your body to recreate the breast. 

    The most common flap procedures for breast reconstruction are DIEP flap and TRAM flap, which use tissue from the abdomen. In some cases, natural tissue reconstruction is done using tissue from other areas of the body. Your surgeon will recommend one of these procedures when the abdominal tissue is not suitable for use in reconstruction or if abdominal tissue was previously used for reconstruction.

    Procedures

    Latissimus Dorsi flap reconstruction 

    For this procedure, the flap tissue, muscle and skin are tunneled around from the back of the body to the front and are placed at the mastectomy site. Because there may not be enough volume of tissue from this area of the back to match the size of the other breast, this procedure may also require the placement of an implant.

    The surgery may leave a large scar visible on the back and a scar on the newly reconstructed breast. This type of reconstruction avoids the potential flap death associated with free TRAM and DIEP flap procedures.

    Superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap reconstruction

    This procedure takes tissue from the top of the buttocks. Your surgeon will work to maintain a natural contour to your buttocks while taking the donor tissue. There will be a scar on the buttocks and on the newly reconstructed breast.

    Transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flap reconstruction

    With this procedure, a new breast is constructed using the tissue from the upper thigh near the groin and from the gracilis muscle, which is the muscle that helps pull legs inward. Your surgeon would likely recommend this if you have smaller breasts that will not require as significant of tissue volume to appear natural. Because of the location of the donor site, the scar is very well hidden. In addition, few patients feel significant effects on their comfort or function from the change in the gracilis muscle.

    Appointment Information

    If you are ready for a consultation about your breast reconstruction options, call 734-998-6022 to schedule an appointment with one of our plastic surgeons.

    Locations
    • Plastic Surgery Clinic | Domino's Farms 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr Ste A1200
      Lobby A
      Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9484       Get Directions

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Paul Stephen Cederna, MD

    Paul Stephen Cederna, MD

    Professor

    Plastic Surgery

    Jessica Jen-Tau Hsu, MD

    Jessica Jen-Tau Hsu, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Plastic Surgery

    Jeffrey Hall Kozlow, MD

    Jeffrey Hall Kozlow, MD

    Clinical Professor

    Plastic Surgery, Surgery

    Theodore Alexander Kung, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Plastic Surgery

    Adeyiza Olutoyin Momoh, MD

    Adeyiza Olutoyin Momoh, MD

    Professor

    Plastic Surgery, Surgery

    Paige Myers, MD, MPH

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Plastic Surgery

    Noah Saad, MD

    Noah Saad, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor

    Plastic Surgery, Surgery

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