My Breakthrough
A tissue flap
In this operation, a flap of muscle and fat is taken from the back or abdomen to make a new breast.
This type of reconstruction is often recommended to women who have too little tissue left after their mastectomy for an implant to be put in.
The flap can be:
A tissue flap operation for breast reconstruction can take up to eight hours. This compares with one to two hours for a breast implant.
The flap can be:
- Cut out completely and sewn into the chest in the shape of a breast, with the tissue attached to blood vessels nearby.
- Partly cut out but left attached to its original blood supply. A flap taken from between the shoulder blades is 'threaded' through a cut below the armpit and pulled into place in the chest, while a flap from the abdomen is 'threaded' under the skin over the stomach, and into the chest.
A tissue flap operation for breast reconstruction can take up to eight hours. This compares with one to two hours for a breast implant.
After the operation:
- Your new breast may be sore and painful. So may the area where the tissue flap has been taken from. Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse. They can give you painkillers. Everyone feels pain differently; some people need more painkilling drugs than others. There's no need to be in pain. Taking painkillers regularly, before the pain comes back, will help you recover more quickly.
- You may have small tubes in your new breast to drain away excess fluid.
- You will need to stay in hospital for seven to 10 days, depending on what type of tissue flap operation you've had.
Also within "Treatment"
