Natural Tissue Microsurgical Reconstruction

Natural tissue breast reconstruction offers women a chance to restore the natural look and feel of their breasts after mastectomy. These procedures recreate the breast using tissue taken from a donor site elsewhere on the patient’s body.

In order to survive being transferred to the breast, tissue must be taken with its blood supply. Tissue transferred in this manner is called a “tissue flap”, in contrast to tissue taken without blood supply, which is called a “tissue graft”. In most flap procedures, small vessels that perforate the tissue flap are divided and then microsurgically connected to vessels in the breast region to re-establish a blood supply.

The abdomen, thigh, buttock, lumbar region, and upper back are all potential donor sites for natural tissue breast reconstruction. These procedures may be performed at the same time as a mastectomy, or they may be performed months, years, or even decades later. Some women choose natural tissue breast reconstruction to replace their older implant reconstructions.

Dr. Smith developed an Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) that significantly reduces discomfort after surgery, decreasing the need for narcotic medication and time spent in the hospital. Recovery typically involves a 2 day hospital stay and a few weeks rest at home.