How can Corrective Reconstruction help me?

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 >…

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Will my insurance cover DIEP/SGAP flap reconstructions?

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….

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Why don’t more surgeons perform the DIEP and SGAP flap procedures?

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….

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Can I be reconstructed at the same time as my mastectomy?

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….

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What determines if I am a candidate for a DIEP or SGAP flap?

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…

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How do they differ from the TRAM and gluteal flaps?

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….

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What is a SGAP flap?

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…

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