Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Part I - Tissue Expanders, Breast Implants and Alloderm

This posting is the first of a 3-part series on breast reconstructive surgery discussing the reconstructive options available to women facing mastectomy for breast cancer.

Every woman has a right to breast reconstruction. This has now actually become a federal mandate and insurance companies are required to pay for all types of breast reconstruction by law. Having said that it is also important to remember that it’s not up to the health insuranc carrier to decide which reconstruction a patient receives. That’s determined by the patient and her surgeons.

Breast reconstruction is not a form of cosmetic surgery – it restores something that nature has provided but cancer has taken away. There is also no age limit – as long as there are no medical conditions that render the surgery unsafe and the breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, most women are candidates.

Breast reconstruction can be performed as an “immediate” or “delayed” procedure. As the term implies, immediate reconstruction is performed immediately after the mastectomy while the patient is still under anesthesia. Once the general surgeon has completed the mastectomy the plastic surgeon begins creating the new breast. Advantages of this approach include the option of preserving most of the breast skin (“skin-sparing mastectomy”) and a shorter scar. The patient also wakes up “complete” and avoids the experience of a flat chest. Immediate reconstruction generally provides far superior cosmetic results.

Delayed reconstruction generally takes place several months following mastectomy. Patients required to undergo radiation after mastectomy may be advised to delay reconstruction in order to achieve the best results. This delay may last several months in order to allow the tissues to recover as much as possible from the radiotherapy.

There are several reconstructive options for women to choose from, ranging from breast implants to “autologous” techniques using the patient's own tissue to recreate a more “natural”, warm, soft breast. The nipple and areola can also be recreated.

Tissue Expanders and Breast Implant Reconstruction

This is the most common method of reconstructive breast surgery currently being used in the United States. Most surgeons perform this is a two-stage procedure. The tissue expander is essentially a temporary breast implant which can be placed either at the same time as the mastectomy or after the mastectomy has healed. The expander is used to stretch the skin envelope and recreate the size of breast the patient wants. The expander is ultimately replaced by a permanent implant (saline or silicone) at a separate procedure several months later.

Some patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction are candidates for one-step breast implant reconstruction whereby a permanent implant is inserted at the time of the mastectomy and the patient avoids going through the whole expansion process. In the one-step implant reconstruction the implant is completely covered by the pectoralis muscle and Alloderm (a cadaveric acellular dermal graft). This is specially treated skin from a cadaver that is used to provide a sling and coverage of the lower part of the implant.

Two types of implants are available to patients: saline and silicone. There are many opinions regarding both types of implants and it is advised that you speak with your surgeon as to which implant would be best for you. Patients who undergo implant reconstruction should be aware that their breast implants may need to be replaced at a future date.

Implant reconstruction can be the best option for some patients. However, tissue expanders and implants can be fraught with complications long-term, particularly if the patient has had or is going to have radiation therapy as part of her cancer treatments. For these reasons, many surgeons and patients prefer autologous reconstruction, i.e. reconstruction using the patient's own tissue taken from another part of the body. These will be discussed in upcoming posts.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive breast surgery after mastectomy. Techniques offered include Alloderm one-step reconstruction and DIEP flap reconstruction. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest news in breast reconstruction surgery and research at The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Part II - Muscle Flap Reconstruction

Women interested in breast reconstruction after mastectomy have several reconstruction options to choose from. In Part I of this series we discussed tissue expanders, breast implants and Alloderm.

Though implant reconstruction remains the most common method of breast reconstruction in the US, many women are now steering away from this option, opting instead to use their own tissue for more “natural” results. Muscle flaps have, until fairly recently, been the only choice available for these tissue reconstructions. The most commonly offered muscle flaps are the latissimus and TRAM flap procedures.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap:

The latissimus procedure uses muscle from the back of the shoulder blade which is brought around to the breast mound to help create a new breast. During the procedure a section of skin, fat and muscle is detached from the back and brought to the breast area.

Many patients also need a tissue expander placed under the muscle flap in order to obtain a satisfactory result. The expander is replaced by a permanent implant at a second procedure down the line.

Patients will have a scar on their back shoulder region that can sometimes be seen through a tank top, swimsuit or sundress. The upper back can be numb or sore for a few following this procedure until the nerves grow back and the incisions are completely healed.

Women who are very active in sports should know that this procedure can reduce ability to participate in activities like golf, climbing, swimming, or tennis.

TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous) Flap:

The TRAM flap was the first procedure to describe use of one of the rectus abdominis muscles (sit-up muscles) for breast reconstruction. This procedure begins with an incision from hip to hip rather like a “tummy-tuck”.

A "flap" of skin, fat and one of the patient's abdominal muscles is typically tunneled under the skin to the chest to create a new breast. This is known as a pedicled TRAM flap. Recovery from the TRAM flap procedure can be difficult and painful and there is a risk of abdominal bulging (or “pooching”) and even hernia. Long-term, the patient has to adapt to the loss of some abdominal strength (up to 20%) which most active patients will notice.

In cases where both breasts are being reconstructed, both abdominal muscles are sacrificed and transferred to the chest (one for each breast). The loss of abdominal strength in these situations is far greater and very significant.

Over the years and with the introduction of microsurgery, the procedure has evolved several times with each modification preserving more and more abdominal muscle. This has made postoperative recovery a little easier and has decreased the potential for abdominal complications somewhat.

The latest evolution in breast reconstruction is  “perforator flap surgery”. These techniques use skin and fat from various parts of the body. Since no muscle is sacrificed recovery is much easier and muscle strength and function are preserved long-term. These techniques will be discussed in Part III of this breast reconstruction series.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy including the DIEP flap and Alloderm one-step procedures. In-network for most US insurance plans. Toll Free (800) 692-5565. Latest news in breast reconstruction surgery and research available at The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Part III - Perforator Flap Reconstruction

The ideal breast reconstruction technique is one which allows reconstruction of a “natural”, warm, soft breast with the least impact on the patient’s body. While breast reconstruction with stem cells may not be too far off, until it becomes a reality we are limited to using the patient’s own tissue to achieve these goals. As discussed in the previous posts in this breast reconstruction series, until fairly recently the only “tissue reconstruction” options involved sacrificing muscle. This made recovery from the surgery difficult and painful, not to mention the risk of long-term muscle function loss and weakness.

Perforator flap techniques use skin and fat from various parts of the body. All muscles are preserved. Since no muscle is sacrificed recovery is much easier and muscle strength and function are preserved long-term. The downside to these procedures is that they are technically much more demanding than other breast reconstruction techniques and require microsurgical expertise. For this reason they are not offered by many plastic surgeons and patients must be prepared to travel when choosing these procedures.

DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) Flap

The DIEP flap is the latest evolution of the TRAM flap (discussed in Part II) and represents today's gold standard in breast reconstruction. The DIEP flap procedure is similar to the TRAM flap but only requires the removal of skin and fat. NO MUSCLE is sacrificed. The blood vessels required to keep the tissue alive lay just beneath the abdominal muscle. Therefore, a small incision is made in the abdominal muscle in order to dissect the vessels and microsurgery is required to reattach the blood vessels to the chest area.

Even though an incision is made in the abdominal muscle NO abdominal muscle is removed or transferred to the breast in the DIEP flap procedure. As a result, patients do not have to sacrifice their abdominal strength and they experience less pain and a much quicker recovery. The risk of abdominal bulging and hernia is also very small.

The DIEP flap was first described in the early 1990's but has remained much less popular than the TRAM flap among plastic surgeons, presumably because of the increased complexity and difficulty of the procedure compared to the TRAM.

So the advantages of the DIEP flap are multiple: it uses living tissue to recreate a breast that often looks and feels like a normal breast; abdominal strength is not affected; the risk of bulging or hernias is significantly reduced; and, like the TRAM flap, the patient benefits from a simultaneous “tummy-tuck”.

The DIEP flap is a very technically demanding operation but the benefits are tremendous for the patient, especially when performed at the same time as a skin-sparing mastectomy.

SIEA (Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery) Flap

The SIEA flap procedure is very similar to the DIEP flap procedure. The main difference between the SIEA and DIEP is the artery used for blood flow supply to the reconstructed breast. The SIEA arteries are generally found in the fatty tissue just below skin.

As in the DIEP the SIEA flap reconstruction does not sacrifice the abdominal muscle and only uses the patient's skin and fat to reconstruct the breast. While the SIEA flap procedure is similar to the DIEP it is used less frequently since less than 20% of patients have the anatomy required to allow this procedure.

GAP (Gluteal Artery Perforator) Flap

Women who do not have an adequate amount of abdominal tissue for reconstruction may be eligible for the GAP flap. This procedure uses excess skin and fat from the gluteal or buttock region. Fat and skin from either the upper or lower buttock region can be used and microsurgically transplanted to the chest.

Once again, no muscle is sacrificed. Incisions can generally be hidden by most underwear. If a patient requires a bilateral reconstruction with GAP flaps most surgeons prefer to only perform one side at a time. It is important to discuss this possibility with your surgeon.

Advantages of the GAP flap include: a scar that is generally hidden with underwear or swimsuits, and no loss of muscle function or strength.

Other Breast Reconstruction Options:

TUG (Transverse Upper Gracilis) Flap

Like the GAP flap, the TUG flap is an option in cases where there is not enough lower abdominal tissue to reconstruct the breast(s). The TUG procedure uses the upper part of the inner thigh; skin, fat and a small amount of muscle are disconnected and transferred to the chest to create the new breast. The patient benefits from a simultaneous inner thigh lift. Once again, this procedure is not widely available due to its complexity and need for microsurgical expertise.

It is important to realize that whichever method of reconstruction is used, the vast majority of women will require 2 or even 3 procedures for the optimal cosmetic result. Each procedure is typically separated by several weeks. The entire reconstructive process, regardless of the method of reconstruction, can therefore take several months to complete. However, breast reconstruction does NOT typically complicate or delay cancer treatment such as chemotherapy.

With all this in mind and also remembering the superior cosmetic results associated with immediate breast reconstruction (reconstruction performed at the same time as mastectomy), it is recommended that women discuss their reconstructive options with a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction before undergoing mastectomy whenever possible.

For more information about breast reconstruction options please visit www.prma-Enhance.com. For the latest news and developments in breast reconstruction please also visit The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog.

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Dr Chrysopoulo, board certified plastic surgeon, PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, TX. Specializing in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. Over 350 DIEP flaps performed yearly. In-network for most US insurance plans. Toll Free (800) 692-5565. www.prma-Enhance.com. Latest breast reconstruction news available at The Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog.

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