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Why Should I Consider Autologous Breast Reconstruction?

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Breast reconstruction can be a tough pill to swallow. I understand why the idea of additional surgery after a mastectomy may feel overwhelming. But a breast reconstruction procedure can play a vital role in helping a woman emotionally recover and take back control of her body following her battle with breast cancer. And for many women who opt for breast reconstruction, rebuilding the breast with your own natural tissue (also known as autologous reconstruction) can be an appealing option.

Why Should I Consider Autologous Breast ReconstructionRather than using breast implants; autologous breast reconstruction transfers the patient’s own fat and sometimes skin and muscle from the abdomen, back, or another area to the chest and shapes it into a new breast. Some patients prefer the natural look and feel of breasts reconstructed with tissue flaps. Breasts reconstructed with autologous reconstruction will behave like natural breasts, even fluctuating in size after weight gain or loss. While every surgery has its own risks, autologous reconstruction does not carry the risk of implant-related complications, nor does it require the maintenance exams that implants do.

Autologous breast reconstruction is a complex procedure that requires experience, technical expertise, and a seasoned eye. Unlike implant-based reconstruction, autologous reconstruction requires reconnecting tissue and restoring blood supply in a very intricate and precise way. During consultation, we will determine if autologous breast reconstruction is right for you.  

I offer my patients a number of choices for autologous reconstruction using either a TRAM flap (abdominal tissue) or latissimus flap (back tissue). I perform two types of TRAM flap techniques, the pedicled TRAM flap and free TRAM flap, depending on the unique needs of each patient. Though both TRAM flaps use fat, muscle, and sometimes skin from the abdomen to form a new breast, during a pedicled TRAM flap procedure the tissue remains connected to its original area, whereas the free TRAM flap involves completely removing the tissue from the body and reattaching it to the blood vessels in the chest.

Regardless of which breast reconstruction surgery a patient chooses, the end goal is always the same: to make the physical changes necessary to help each patient feel whole again following their mastectomy. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, I take great pride in providing my patients with the chance for a fresh start after breast cancer. If you are interested in breast reconstruction or another type of plastic and reconstructive surgery and would like to know more, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, to schedule a consultation today. You can also follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more helpful tips and cosmetic surgery information.

Dr. Franklyn Elliott Takes Part in Fall Plastic Surgery Conferences

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The field of cosmetic surgery (and the medical field in general) is constantly changing and advancing. This is why it’s so crucial for board-certified plastic surgeons like Dr. Franklyn Elliott to stay on the cutting edge of new developments, such as by participating in the several medical conferences he attends every year. But another function of these conferences is for Dr. Elliott to contribute to other surgeons’ abilities by sharing the knowledge and experience he has gained in over 30 years as a double board-certified plastic surgeon. This fall, Dr. Elliott is filling the role of both teacher and learner at two major conferences.

Dr. Franklyn Elliott Takes Part in Fall Plastic Surgery ConferencesPlastic Surgery: The Meeting (American Society of Plastic Surgeons)

This annual nationwide meeting aims to educate surgeons about the latest developments in all areas of cosmetic surgery. This September, the meeting took place in Los Angeles, and Dr. Elliott’s educational role was focused on one of his specialties: the pedicled TRAM flap technique for breast reconstruction. In this method, the breasts are reconstructed not using breast implants but using the patient’s own fat, muscle, blood vessels, and/or skin. The name “TRAM flap” indicates that this tissue is taken from a specific area in the abdomen (which can also have a slimming effect), in the case of a “pedicled” TRAM flap, the flap of tissue maintains its connection to the blood supply from within the abdomen, rather than being entirely disconnected and re-attached. As one of the world’s most experienced surgeons in this technique, Dr. Elliott learned the procedure from the surgeon who developed it, Dr. Carl Hartrampf, and after performing it successfully for over thirty years, he is honored to share his knowledge through this plastic surgery conference.

23rd Biennial Congress of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)

Taking place this fall in Kyoto, Japan, the Congress of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is an opportunity for surgeons who are normally oceans apart to learn from each other with the collective goal of helping all cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients enjoy safer and more successful results. Dr. Elliott is honored to be alongside presenters from all across the globe as he offers his expertise on two topics this year. The first is the use of SurgiMend®, a form of specialized surgical material which can be used during breast reconstruction (as well as in other medical aspects). The second topic Dr. Elliott is presenting is the use of varying techniques for breast lift surgery—a procedure designed to restore a more lifted and youthful shape for women with sagging breasts.

Conferences like these allow Dr. Elliott to offer his patients the best of both worlds: the cutting-edge knowledge of someone with fresh education as well as the invaluable experience of over thirty years spent performing surgeries. To discuss what Dr. Elliott can do for you and your aesthetic goals, schedule a plastic surgery consultation, during which you can explain your concerns, priorities, and desired results in order to receive a recommendation which fits your needs. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and other helpful information, follow Dr. Franklyn Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Ask Dr. Elliott: Should I Choose a TRAM Flap for My Breast Reconstruction?

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A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming to say the least, let alone when you factor in all the decisions which need to be made in its wake. As a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction, one of my goals is to make life a little easier for current breast cancer patients and survivors alike who are considering reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. One of the ways I’m happy to help is by offering accurate and straightforward information you can use to decide which method of reconstruction is best for you. There are more possibilities than most patients initially realize, from breast implants to your own natural tissue to a combination of both. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the TRAM flap – a type of breast reconstruction which uses a “flap” of muscle, fat, and sometimes skin from your abdominal area and “re-routes” it to the chest in order to form a new breast. So how do you know if the TRAM flap is the right choice for you?

breast reconstruction tram flap information atlanta gaA TRAM flap breast reconstruction may be ideal for patients who…

  • Would benefit from a tummy tuck-like result in their abdomen.
  • Want to use their own natural tissue (as opposed to a breast implant) without the increased risk and operating time of the DIEP flap. The DIEP flap is another reconstruction procedure which uses abdominal fat, skin, and blood vessels to re-create the breast. But instead of using muscle as the blood supply to nourish the fat cells, a DIEP flap uses specific blood vessels instead, so it requires microsurgery to connect these vessels. As a result, the surgery often takes around five hours or even longer depending on the surgeon’s experience (compared to a three-hour TRAM flap), which can mean a higher risk of complications.
  • Want a more natural-looking result compared to breast implants.
  • Do not have enough healthy tissue remaining on their chest after a mastectomy to accommodate an implant.
  • Have had a unilateral mastectomy (only one breast removed) and are concerned about their reconstructed breast looking symmetrical to their natural one.
  • Want their results to remain natural-looking over time. TRAM flap reconstructed breasts will age in a similar way to natural breasts, while implants tend to retain more of their original shape.

A patient may want to consider other breast reconstruction options if…

  • They don’t have access to a surgeon who is skilled in TRAM flap surgery. The procedure is more dependent on the surgeon’s skill than a breast implant is. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Dr. Carl Hartrampf, the surgeon who developed the TRAM flap breast reconstruction method, and have been performing and perfecting the surgery since 1983. However, if you don’t have access to a surgeon who is highly experienced in the TRAM flap, you may want to consider other options.
  • They have a medical condition which makes it unsafe for them to be under anesthesia for the few hours a TRAM flap (or any reconstruction using your own tissue) requires.
  • They want their surgery and the recovery period to be shorter, which is typically the case with breast implants.
  • They’re concerned about having an additional scar in the lower abdomen where the tissue is taken from to re-create the breast.
  • They have a history of smoking or circulatory problems. This makes certain complications more likely in TRAM flap reconstruction (and any other type of reconstruction using your own tissue).

While using information like this to educate yourself about your options is a great start, every patient is unique, and selecting a breast reconstruction procedure is a complex decision. That’s why it’s so important to visit a board-certified plastic surgeon for a personal consultation. During this appointment, I’ll be able to perform an initial exam, discuss your medical history, and begin working with you to design a surgical plan that’s best for you and your needs. If you’re ready to take this step, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful information about breast reconstruction and other plastic surgeries, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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