Self-Donated Tissue for More Natural Breast Reconstruction

By R. Michael Koch, MD, New York Group for Plastic Surgery

There’s a positive trend for women facing mastectomy to take more control over how their breasts will be reconstructed, and increasingly that includes using their own body’s tissue for creation of breasts with a very natural look and feel. This breast reconstruction procedure is known as autologous breast reconstruction, or free tissue transfer, and is performed by a plastic surgeon specializing in microsurgery.

Simply put, we remove skin, fat and blood vessels — referred to as the “tissue flap” — from an area of the body, typically the abdomen. We immediately transfer the tissue flap to fill up the breast skin, surgically attaching the tissue flap via the blood vessels, so it actually becomes part of the breasts.

Using her body’s tissue provides a woman with breasts that look and feel incredibly natural, with the added benefit of excess abdominal fat removal. But the autologous reconstructive surgery is more complex, and the recovery period is typically longer, than with breast implant reconstruction. The decision for each woman generally comes down to her goals for surgery, recovery and aesthetic outcome, and which procedure will best suit her body type. A significant consideration with autologous breast reconstruction is a woman’s smoking habit — smoking constricts the blood vessels needed for successful surgery.

The skill and experience of the microsurgeon is critical to the success of autologous breast reconstruction following mastectomy, as risks can include breasts that are asymmetrical, or uneven; excessive scarring in the area where the tissue is taken from; and failure to properly preserve the nipple area in a nipple-sparing mastectomy. It’s critical to do the research and interviewing needed to find the right fit for both the breast reconstruction procedure and the surgeon to perform it for you.

Dr. R. Michael Koch is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with the New York Group for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Koch specializes in microsurgical reconstruction, breast surgery and cosmetic surgery. http://www.nygplasticsurgery.com