Natural tissue reconstruction can also be performed with flaps from the thigh, lumbar region, or upper back.
LAP, TUG/PAP, GAP, and TDAP are all natural tissue breast reconstruction procedures. These procedures rely on non-abdominal donor sites to provide the tissue needed to recreate the breast.
The TUG and PAP procedures each use a different area of the upper thigh for their tissue flaps. GAP procedures, which include the SGAP and IGAP, use different areas of the buttock. The TDAP procedure uses tissue from the upper back.
The LAP procedure is one of the newest procedures for natural tissue breast reconstruction. Dr. Smith is one of only a few plastic surgeons to have successfully perform this procedure, which takes tissue from the lumbar or “love handle” region.
The LAP, TUG/PAP, GAP, and TDAP procedures are typically considered if the abdomen has been excluded as a donor tissue site for breast reconstruction. A woman may not be a good candidate for abdominal flap reconstruction due to prior abdominal surgery or if she does not have enough tissue in the abdominal region. These procedures typically require microsurgical techniques similar to the DIEP flap.
During your consultation, Dr. Smith will discuss your surgical options with you. If the abdomen isn’t a candidate for your tissue flap, the thigh (TUG/PAP) is often the next most common donor site.
Recovery will include some tightness and soreness at the surgical sites. Walking is encouraged after surgery but strenuous activity should be avoided for six weeks. Each surgical site will have at least one drain for a week or two, which you’ll need to care for and record the drain output. Range of motion exercises begin after the first week. After several weeks, as the initial discomfort fades, you should be able to return to normal activities.
I didn’t have to take any pain medicine. It was just amazing. . . I had this major surgery and was home the next day.
I would 100% recommend Dr. Smith and just say there isn’t a better doctor out there for this.
I'm astonished. I am amazed at how Dr. Smith was able to create another breast for me from nothing.
Dr. Smith is the happy ending to this story. Everyone that I spoke to about him said, ‘you're in great hands.’
I can't believe I didn't feel any pain. I didn't really need any painkillers. Not at all.
He will always give you his best. He will help you to feel whole again. He will help you to feel like the person you were before.
I can tell you now 1,000% that I made the right decision...the way that they look, you cannot even see a scar.
I felt like this doctor is something. He has a good heart. He’s very gentle and very nice.
And I just knew how thorough he was, that he was prepared, that he was well informed, and that he knew his craft
Dr. Smith was very, very nice and friendly. He was very down to earth compared to some doctors. He's knowledgeable, of course. His credentials definitely spoke volumes.
He's even more impressive than I had first thought. He is very direct and he's smart. And he will explain things to you.
It's very important to me to have good bedside manner. And [Dr. Smith] took the time. He made me feel like he could do this 1-2-3, and I'd be good to go.
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