Breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Abstract

A variety of procedures can be used in breast reconstruction following mastectomy depending on the condition of the residual tissue. A silicone implant or tissue expander is used when the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue are preserved, although silicone implants are no longer used in the United States. Alternatively, a lateral abdominal flap, lateral thoracic flap, latissimus dorsi flap, or rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap may be used. We have performed breast reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap without a silicone implant, and the vertical axis of the rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap was also used. Nipple-areola reconstruction was also investigated.