How long do drains stay in after DIEP flap surgery?
You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in those areas. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day, although you may need pain medicine for a week or two. You may get tired easily or have less energy than usual. This may last for several weeks after surgery.
What is the TRAM flap?
A TRAM flap forms a natural-looking breast, so the patient usually does not need a breast implant. It is a type of breast reconstruction. Also called transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.
What is a breast flap procedure?
Surgery Overview. Tissue flap surgery is a way to rebuild the shape of a breast using skin, fat, and possibly muscle from another part of the body. It is usually done after part or all of the breast is removed (mastectomy) because of cancer. It may also be done for women who have problems with breast development.
Do you lose weight after Diep Flap?
If you lose weight after DIEP surgery, your reconstructed breasts will likely decrease in size as well. This change may be minimally noticeable or drastic, depending on how your body reacts to weight loss.
Is DIEP a tummy tuck?
While we often say that a DIEP Flap procedure is like getting a tummy tuck, the focus of the surgery is natural breast reconstruction. Some patients may see results with the same toning and tightening as a tummy tuck, but others may not see drastic changes to their midsection.
Is a TRAM flap a tummy tuck?
MS TRAM flap reconstruction involves the removal of tissue and a small amount of muscle from the abdomen. This can provide the cosmetic benefit of removing excess abdominal skin and fat, similar to a tummy tuck, at the same time as the breast reconstruction.
What does tram stand for?
TRAM
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| TRAM | Tractor, Rubber-tired, Articulated steering, Multi-purpose |
| TRAM | Transit Risk Assessment Methodology (emergency management) |
| TRAM | Tree-Based Reliable Multicast Protocol (data transfer support) |
| TRAM | Target Recognition & Attack Multisensor |
What is TRAM reconstruction?
Flap reconstruction options use your existent tissue, taken from a different area of your body, to recreate the breast. One common flap procedure is known as TRAM, or traverse rectus abdominal muscle, flap reconstruction. To complete this operation, surgeons use tissue from your lower abdomen to create a new breast.
Is Diep a tummy tuck?
Can you have a TRAM flap before breast reconstruction?
If you smoke, you may be asked to quit for four to six weeks before your surgery. Also, obesity may preclude you from having a pedicled TRAM flap. In general, flap breast reconstruction surgery is more extensive than is mastectomy or implant reconstruction.
What do you need to know about free tram flaps?
Make sure you understand clearly how much of the abdominal muscle is going to be used. For either of the free TRAM flaps, the tiny blood vessels that feed the tissue of your new breast are matched to blood vessels in your chest and carefully reattached under a microscope.
How are tram flaps reattached to the chest?
For either of the free TRAM flaps, the tiny blood vessels that feed the tissue of your new breast are matched to blood vessels in your chest and carefully reattached under a microscope. For a pedicled TRAM flap, the section of skin, fat, and muscle is slid through a tunnel under the skin up to your chest.
Where does the muscle come from for TRAM flap?
During TRAM flap surgery, an incision is made along your bikini line and an oval section of skin, fat, blood vessels, and muscle is taken from the lower half of your belly, moved up to your chest, and formed into a breast shape. If you’re having a muscle-sparing free TRAM flap,…