How can autologous tissue flaps help?
For women who have undergone radiation as part of their breast cancer treatment, using tissue flaps during breast reconstruction can help reduce some of the risks associated with implant surgery. The timing for your reconstruction will be discussed with your oncologist.
Dr. Tanna can also address radiation damage in several different ways. Fat transfer can be performed in several stages after lumpectomy or mastectomy to create natural-looking contours. Another approach is to place a tissue expander into the breast pocket at the time of mastectomy (when postmastectomy radiation is anticipated) and then perform autologous tissue flap reconstruction following completion of radiation therapy. Finally, for women with a history of radiation therapy in the setting of implant reconstruction, removal of implants and replacement with flap reconstruction can be considered. This is a common approach for women with radiation damage, especially those with capsular contracture, pain, or implant malposition.