What Is Latissimus Flap Reconstruction?
Lateral flap surgery is a method for breast reconstruction that uses skin, fat, and other tissues from your back to construct a natural-looking breast replacement after mastectomy. Latissimus flap reconstruction gets its name from the latissimus dorsi muscle, which is used for the surgery. During latissimus flap surgery, our providers at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery make an incision in your back under the shoulder blades, cutting an oval-shaped section of donor tissue to move to the chest through a tunnel under your armpit. The donor tissue is usually placed over a tissue expander or implant to create the breast size you desire. This approach allows us to avoid severing blood vessels, ensuring your reconstructed breast gets an adequate supply of blood. Latissimus flap surgery is just one of many approaches to breast reconstruction we perform at our Chicago, IL practice. To learn more about this procedure and which reconstructive technique is right for you, schedule a consultation with our friendly, compassionate plastic surgery team.
How Is Latissimus Flap Surgery Performed?
During your consultation, we'll discuss how breast reconstruction surgery works and recommend an approach based on your figure and health profile. Latissimus dorsi flap surgery is performed with general anesthesia and often takes 2 – 3 hours. First, your surgeon will make an oval-shaped incision in your back. After gaining access to the latissimus muscle and tissues underneath, we'll create a tunnel through the armpit area to your chest to create a natural breast mound. If additional volume is needed, we'll also install a tissue expander, which will allow us to slowly expand the breasts to prepare for future implant surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Latissimus Flap Reconstruction?
Just like every breast reconstruction technique we use at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery, latissimus flap surgery comes with a variety of benefits that may make an ideal choice for your breast restoration. Some of the advantages of latissimus flip reconstruction include:
- Offers a more natural look and feel
- May eliminate the need for future surgeries (depending on the timing of your procedure)
- Offers an option for women who have undergone radiation therapy for breast cancer
- Enhanced confidence
Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery Reviews
Dr. Moradian performed an incredible job! He’s one of the sweetest and compassionate doctors/surgeons I’ve ever encountered. He made me feel incredibly comfortable and relieved, putting all my anxieties to rest. I underwent a transaxillary breast augmentation, and I’m thrilled with the results. All of my friends and family are blown away by my outcome. I have a new sense of confidence that has changed my life. While I was in my recovery room, Dr. Moradian not only took care of me but also spoke to my family and answered all their questions. He exudes a sense of safety and ensures that you receive the best possible outcomes. He took the time to personally check up on me and kindly encouraged me to reach out to him. Dr. Moradian genuinely cares about your concerns and takes the time to explain everything in detail. I am so fortunate to have found him!
Simon was phenomenal. I decided at age 16 to gauge my ears and stretched them far beyond the point of them closing on their own. I am getting married and wanted to be able to wear regular earrings for the first time in 20 years. Simon came to rescue after I was quoted waaaaay too much from another surgeon that basically wanted to cut my ears that day without letting them heal on their own and told me he could inject them with filler after they healed (like, WHAT?) Simon was so thorough and patient during our consultation and even more so during the actual procedure. He let my ears close naturally for a while to avoid removing too much tissue so they would look normal and healthy after they healed. EVERYONE is shocked (including me) that they look so good. You would never know that I had enormous holes in my ears for 20 years. 10/10 recommend for any procedure.
Dr. Schierle and his team are THE BEST!! I got breast augmentation on January 9th. It’s Perfect! Love my new look! I feel more confidence now than before. Thank you again for your best work.
Had DCF rhinoplasty with Dr. Schierle, Dr. Moradian, and Monica in Dec of 2024. Definitely THE best experience I had ! The consultation was personalized, you could tell they are some of the best surgeons in the game. I never had any surgeries, so I was very nervous. But they made the process so smooth. I loved the results so much. They kept my natural beauty and elevated the new nose to complement my face better. Even some of my close friends wanted to book a consultation with them after seeing my new nose! 100000/10 recommend!
Amazing experience with Robyn for all of my injection and skincare needs! The staff is amazing and highly skilled. The entire staff is super welcoming and warm. I always recommend to my friends and family!
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Trust Our Experience
If you are looking for an experienced surgeon to help you regain your old figure after breast loss, the team at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery can help. Specializing in latissimus flap surgery and a variety of other techniques, we have extensive experience helping with breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Start your healing journey by scheduling a consultation at our Chicago, IL plastic surgery office.