We encourage our patients to make informed decisions by researching all available options. Our staff offers constant support by addressing all questions and concerns and providing information to help them feel secure in their decision. Courage Options Answers…
Women seeking corrective breast reconstruction work closely with our care navigators and surgeons through every step of the journey including direct communication with your surgeon to review past results, discuss possible solutions, and determine the ideal procedure for your situation. Learn more about corrective breast reconstruction >…
Yes. If your insurance covers mastectomy, they must by law cover the reconstruction method of your choice. If you do not have a surgeon in your community who performs the type of reconstruction you are seeking, your insurer will often pay for surgery in another city or state if required….
Most Plastic Surgeons do not perform perforator flap breast reconstruction due to its complexity. It is technically very difficult and time consuming. Best success rates and efficiency are afforded when performed by a team of microsurgeons. There are very few microsurgical breast reconstruction teams committed to such an endeavor….
You should wait 3-6 months following chemotherapy. This allows your body time to recover from the chemotherapy before stressing it with an operation. You should wait 6 months or more following radiation therapy. This allows your chest skin to recover from the effects of radiation before your reconstruction….
Yes. This is referred to as “immediate reconstruction”. Some of the best aesthetic results are accomplished when the reconstructions are performed at the time of mastectomy in conjunction with a skin-sparing mastectomy. The total surgical time is unchanged because the breast surgeon and the reconstructive surgeons work together at the same time….
You are a candidate for a DIEP flap reconstruction if the amount of fat you have on your lower abdomen is sufficient to reconstruct one or both breasts to the desired volume. The tissue used is that which is often removed during tummy tucks. Prior abdominal operations (i.e. hysterectomy, c-section, appendectomy, bowel resection, liposuction) does…
Surgeons whom perform the operations routinely may have success rate exceeding 99%. The success rate equals that of the TRAM and gluteal flaps depending on the surgical team….
The TRAM and gluteal flaps take the underlying muscles with the skin and fat for the breast reconstruction. This can lengthen recovery and and in the case of the TRAM flap may increase your risk for hernia or abdominal “bulge?. Taking the gluteal musculature may result in some weakness in the buttocks….
SGAP stands for Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator. As with the DIEP, the gluteal artery perforator arises from a branch of the gluteal artery, courses thru the muscle, to deliver blood to the overlying buttock fat. This procedure allows for use of buttock fat to reconstruct the breast when abdominal fat is inadequate. Similar to the…