Another option for these patients is called flap reconstruction. Surgeons create a skin flap using tissue taken from other parts of the body such as the abdomen or the buttocks. In one flap technique, surgeons surgically remove tissue from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks and then transplant it to the chest by reconnecting the blood vessels to new ones in that region. This procedure requires the skills of a plastic surgeon that is experienced in microvascular surgery. Scars are left at both the tissue donor site and at the reconstructed breast.
Recovery takes longer than with an implant.
On the other hand, when the breast is reconstructed entirely with your own tissue, the results are generally more natural and there are no concerns about a silicone implant. In some cases, the patient may have the added benefit of an improved abdominal contour. The procedure uses tissue and fat from the gluteal area to reconstruct the breast after a mastectomy. The SGAP is not the first choice among surgeons for breast reconstruction, but it is a viable alternative for women who cannot undergo a flap from the abdominal area. These women have either already had a reconstruction from their abdomen, have had liposuction or are too thin for the reconstruction to be taken from the tummy.