The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans is the only hospital dedicated exclusively to natural tissue breast reconstruction. The Center performs 12–14% of all perforator flap procedures in the United States each year. More than 70% of patients travel from out of state or internationally. The Center offers more reconstruction options than any other facility in the world, including complex modular and multi-flap procedures that are not available anywhere else.

DIEP stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator. It is one of the most commonly performed natural tissue breast reconstruction procedures. The surgery uses fat tissue and skin from the lower abdomen, “providing a tummy tuck,” to rebuild breasts lost to cancer. The result is a more natural looking and feeling breast that is warm to the touch. The abdominal muscles are left intact. It is considered the gold standard in autologous breast reconstruction.

The SGAP (Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator) flap developed by our surgeons uses fat from the upper buttock and flank to reconstruct the breast. Dr. Sullivan has significantly advanced this technique by repositioning the harvest site to a more cosmetically appealing location that provides a natural butt lift while capturing flank tissue. It is ideal for lean women, women who have had prior abdominal surgery, and women who want to avoid abdominal donor sites. The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery is the only provider to perform the advanced SGAP flap procedure option.

The APEX technique, developed by our surgeons, is a refinement of the DIEP flap that fully preserves the abdominal muscle even when blood vessels are positioned far apart, a situation that previously required cutting through the muscle.

Yes, natural tissue reconstruction is covered by insurance under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. All insurance companies are federally required to cover breast reconstruction of the patient’s choice following mastectomy, including the second stage of refinement and surgery on the opposite breast for symmetry. The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery has a dedicated patient advocacy team to assist with insurance authorization.

Yes. Revisional reconstruction, replacing implants with natural tissue, is one of the most common procedures performed at the Center. Women with implant failure, asymmetry, capsular contracture, implant illness concerns, or general dissatisfaction are excellent candidates. Approximately 40% of women who undergo implant-based reconstruction are dissatisfied with their results.

Yes. Delayed reconstruction is absolutely possible for women who choose flat closure and later want reconstruction. There is no woman who is not a candidate for reconstruction in skilled hands. The sooner a woman reaches out for a consultation, the more options she has.

No. The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery’s extensive experience shows that natural tissue flaps tolerate radiation very well. Women who require radiation can preserve their breast skin and often their nipple with a natural tissue flap, achieving excellent outcomes even after radiation.

The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, headquartered in New Orleans with a satellite consultation office in Dallas, is affiliated with the St. Charles Surgical Hospital, the only hospital in the world dedicated exclusively to breast cancer care and breast reconstruction for women facing mastectomy. Virtual consultations are available. The Center’s patient relations team works with partner hotels and restaurants to make travel to New Orleans comfortable and well-supported.

Most women limit activity for 4–6 weeks after the primary surgery. Full recovery, the point at which most women say they feel completely like themselves, takes about one year. The second refinement stage usually involves 3–7 days in New Orleans.