Atlanta abdominal flap reconstruction

For a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, deciding on a treatment plan is extremely complex because she has several key priorities to keep in mind—trying to eliminate all the cancer without risking her safety or sacrificing her ability to feel beautiful. Between lumpectomy, mastectomy with implant reconstruction, mastectomy with autologous reconstruction (using the patient’s own tissue, like the abdominal TRAM flap), it can be overwhelming for a patient to have so many options and to know that her decision will have a life-long effect. After working with breast reconstruction patients for 30 years, I’ve developed an understanding of these patients’ needs, and many of them worry about whether they’ll still be happy with their decision long-term.

A recent study in the Annuls of Surgical Oncology focused on just that—how satisfied women were with their breast cancer treatment choice. The study surveyed more than 7,000 breast cancer survivors, ranging from those whose surgery was less than a year ago to those whose surgery was more than 20 years ago. This study came to several conclusions that can help women to be happier with their results long-term:

• Patients who are more active in the decision-making process tend to be more satisfied with their results. The best way for a patient to take an active role in her treatment is to do her research—learn about the options and the pros and cons of each treatment choice, and discuss extensively with her plastic surgeon before making a decision.
• Patients who opted for abdominal flap reconstruction (like the TRAM flap) are typically happier with their results than patients who chose implant reconstruction, the Latissimus Dorsi flap, a lumpectomy, or mastectomy without reconstruction. Patients who had autologous breast reconstruction ( like the TRAM flap) also tended to retain their satisfaction better over time than implant reconstruction patients and lumpectomy patients, as well as patients who have a complex history of several different procedures. This may be because when the breasts are made using natural tissue, they can more easily change with the patient’s body throughout years of weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and more. As the authors of the study point out, when only one breast is being reconstructed, abdominal flaps also tend to have better symmetry than breast reconstruction results with implants.
• The earlier breast cancer was found and treated, the happier patients tend to be with their breast reconstruction results. This points out once again why regular screenings are so important—early detection could not only save a patient’s life, but help her to regain her confidence and get back to her life after treatment more easily than if the cancer had progressed further.

The process of breast cancer diagnosis, decision, and treatment is never easy—patients are, after all, facing a powerful disease and striving to come out the other side feeling strong and beautiful again. But information like what we found in this study can help breast reconstruction patients navigate their decision using the input of real women who have been in a similar position. My advice for any breast cancer patient is to take in as much information as possible, learn about the options available, and choose the one that feels right to you. For women who have already had breast reconstruction and are unhappy with their results, breast revision surgery can be a way to improve the appearance of your chest even years later. To start discussing your options and learning about which reconstructive option is the best fit for you, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, to learn more about the other procedures I offer, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.