Introduction The rates of mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction have increased over the past two decades, according to a number of large population-based datasets. Changes in the oncologic approach to breast cancer have contributed to increasing rates of bilateral mastectomies.…
Disclosure : The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the drugs, devices, and products mentioned in this article. Introduction There continues to be a steady annual growth in breast reconstruction within the United States, with over…
Introduction Implant-based, or alloplastic, breast reconstruction is the most commonly performed method of breast reconstruction. Within implant-based reconstruction, myriad techniques and reconstructive strategies are at the surgeon's disposal to provide each individual patient with a successful breast reconstruction. Traditional immediate…
Introduction The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is a reliable option for primary autologous breast reconstruction and for salvage of failed prior breast reconstruction because of its robust perfusion, consistent vascular anatomy, and concealable donor site scar. However, the traditional LD…
Introduction The armamentarium available to both the plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction patient has continued to expand with improvement of techniques and the actual number of flaps and implant alternatives available. The transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flap provides just such…
Introduction Breast reconstruction is a common challenge faced by many surgeons working in the plastic and reconstructive arenas. There are various options for autologous breast reconstruction. The more commonly performed procedures include the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) and…
Introduction The advent of gluteal artery perforator (GAP) flaps has served to increase the surgeon's armamentarium in autologous breast reconstruction. In 1993, Koshima et al. originally described local-regional GAP flaps for repair of sacral pressure sores. Later in 1995, Allen and…
Introduction The superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap relies on its namesake vessels to perfuse the ipsilateral abdomen skin and fat, generally for autologous breast reconstruction. This type A fasciocutaneous flap was described in 1971 for head and neck reconstruction…
Introduction Breast reconstruction using the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap has become the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction for most plastic surgeons. The principle benefit of the DIEP flap compared to other flaps is that the abdomen is…
Introduction Abdominally based reconstructions have been utilized for the last 40 years. In 1979, Holstrom used tissue normally discarded from abdominoplasty as a free flap for breast reconstruction. In 1982, Hartrampf described and popularized the pedicled TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis…