Latissimus Flap
for Breast Mound Reconstruction
When a flap is required for
breast reconstruction, the latissimus flap is my usual second choice. (My
preferred flap method for autologous tissue breast reconstruction is the TRAM flap.) The ultimate decision on
which flap to use is made together with the patient, taking into consideration
the various advantages and disadvantages of each option. As mentioned
previously, flaps are most often required for breast reconstruction when
radiation therapy has been used.
The latissimus flap takes the latissimus muscle from the back, along with a portion of skin and fatty tissue that overlies the muscle. The muscle is detached from its insertion along the back, but the blood vessels that supply the muscle are left intact. This flap of muscle, skin and fat is then tunneled under the skin to the anterior chest wall. It is then trimmed, sculpted, and sutured into place to form the breast mound.
There are certain pros & cons when considering the type of flap reconstruction to use. Certainly the interested reader will find a vast diversity of opinion and preference regarding favored types of breast reconstruction among reconstructive surgeons.
One of the major drawbacks of the
latissimus flap reconstruction method is that (according to many sources in the
plastic surgery literature) the flap does not provide enough volume for breast
mound reconstruction by itself. In those circumstances, in order to achieve
enough volume a breast implant may be necessary after the flap is in place. Because
of this issue, I take a larger section of skin and fatty tissue along with the
muscle during harvest in a fleur-de-lie pattern (as shown in image) which
provides greater volume for the breast mound. This technique does leave a large T-shaped scar on the back, which
is perhaps the biggest downfall of this reconstructive method.
One of the advantages of flap reconstruction is that the breast mound is typically reconstructed in a single stage. However, it is not uncommon at all to still require a small outpatient procedure several months after breast reconstruction to do any fine tuning on the breast mound, or to make any adjustments to the other breast (if the patient desires) to maximize symmetry. Examples of other breast surgery done at this setting include breast augmentation (enlargement), mastopexy (breast lift) or breast reduction.
Once the breast mound and any necessary symmetry procedures have been done, we are ready to go to the final stages of breast reconstruction: nipple/areolar reconstruction.
Latissimus Flaps: |
TRAM Flaps: |
What is the latissimus flap? The latissimus is the large muscle on the upper back. This flap uses that muscle and a portion of the overlying skin and fatty tissue to recreate the breast mound. |
What is the TRAM flap? This flap takes one or both of the rectus abdominis muscles along with a large section of overlying skin and fatty tissue from the lower abdomen to recreate the breast mound. |
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