Breast reconstruction with excess reverse abdominoplasty flap

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Mastectomy is a highly traumatic procedure for many women, and mammary reconstruction is a fundamental part of the treatment. Reconstruction has been shown to improve the psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life of these patients, and several techniques and advancements thereof have been described in order to reach the current diversity of modern procedures, whether associated with breast implants or not. This diversity in techniques enables an appropriate selection for each individual case, thus attaining better results. The objective of this report was to present an alternative breast reconstruction method using an upper abdominal flap along with breast implants.

Method:

A 59-year-old woman had undergone right radical mastectomy and three previous breast reconstruction operations with silicone prostheses, without success. We first performed reverse abdominoplasty with exploitation of an excess right flap used as prosthesis coverage. Two years later, we performed contralateral breast symmetrization using mastopexy with a change of prosthesis.

Result:

The planned breast volume reconstruction was achieved. Discrete inflammatory signals were observed in the immediate postoperative period, mainly in the upper pole, and treated with corticosteroid therapy for two weeks; this resulted in complete regression of all signs and symptoms. Seroma was aspirated (20 ml) with a syringe on the 15th postoperative day, with no recurrence. No complications, such as epitheliolysis or flap necrosis, occurred.

Conclusion:

Breast reconstruction with an abdominal flap from reverse abdominoplasty may be an option in a subset of cases, and offers satisfactory results.

Keywords:
Breast cancer; Reconstruction; Implant; Reverse abdominoplasty; Skin/ abdominal flap