| So what is a "perforator flap"? | | | | active women. |
| Pioneered in the early 1990's, perforator flap breast | | | | While microsurgical breast reconstruction offers many |
| reconstruction represents the state of the art in breast | | | | advantages to the patient, perforator flap surgeries |
| reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. The tissue | | | | are very complex and time-consuming and specialized |
| removed at the time of mastectomy may be replaced | | | | training and experience in these specific procedures is |
| with the patient's own warm, soft, living tissue to | | | | required. |
| recreate a "natural" breast. | | | | Before choosing a surgeon ensure that he/she is a |
| Skin, fatty tissue, and the tiny blood vessels that supply | | | | plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of |
| nutrients to the tissue ("perforators") can be taken | | | | Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience with |
| from the patient's abdomen (SIEA flap and DIEP flap | | | | perforator flap breast reconstruction. Ask about the |
| procedures) or buttocks (GAP flap procedure). | | | | success rate of the procedure in their hands (most |
| Unlike conventional tissue reconstruction techniques | | | | specialists boast a flap survival rate of at least 97%) |
| (like the TRAM flap), these microsurgical perforator | | | | and how many they have performed. |
| flap techniques carefully preserve the patient's | | | | Insurance companies are federally mandated to pay |
| underlying musculature. The tissue is then transplanted | | | | for the cost of breast reconstruction. Unfortunately, |
| to the patient's chest and reconnected using | | | | some patients will still face difficulties in gaining access |
| microsurgery. | | | | to perforator flap specialists. Here again it pays to |
| Preserving underlying muscles lessens postoperative | | | | seek out plastic surgeons who specialize in |
| discomfort making the recovery easier and shorter, | | | | microsurgical breast reconstruction as typically an |
| and also enables the patient to maintain muscle | | | | insurance specialist is available to help patients with |
| strength long-term. This is particularly important for | | | | insurance issues. |