About Breast Reconstruction
Natural Tissue (Flap) Reconstruction

Natural Tissue (Flap) Reconstruction

Many women like the idea of reconstructive surgery that uses only their own tissue. “Flap” reconstruction uses tissue from another location on your body, so your new breasts feel more like you and as natural as possible.

Since the breast is formed from your own tissue, and it looks, feels and behaves like a natural part of your body. Tissue flaps are often used by themselves to reconstruct the breast. In some cases, when there is not enough tissue, a flap can be combined with a breast implant to create more volume or projection.

At the Friedman Center, our surgeons specialize in the DIEP flap procedure, a highly specialized type of flap reconstruction that takes tissue from the abdomen. The DIEP flap offers women the benefit of a “tummy tuck” in addition to their new breasts.

In general, flap procedures are longer surgeries that require more recovery time than breast implant procedures. However, natural tissue reconstruction lasts for life. Implants can rupture, and eventually all implants need to be removed and replaced at the end of their lifespan.

The Most Natural Look and Feel

Using your own tissue for breast reconstruction provides the most natural look and feel of any type of breast reconstructive surgery. Unlike breasts formed with implants, breasts made from natural tissue are warm and soft. They even behave like your own body—for example, the reconstructed breast will increase and decrease in size as you gain and lose weight. Click here to compare natural tissue vs. implant reconstruction.

Different Types of Flap Procedures

There are two different types of flap procedures: free flap and pedicled flap.

Free Flap

In a free flap procedure, the tissue flap is completely separated from its original blood vessels and connected to a new blood supply in the chest. Free flap breast reconstruction requires microsurgery, which is done using a microscope. Tiny, microscopic blood vessels must be surgically connected to nourish the new breast with an adequate supply of blood. Most natural tissue procedures use the free flap method, which must be performed by highly specialized plastic surgeons.

The DIEP flap, which takes tissue from the abdomen to rebuild the breast, is one of the most advanced free flap procedures. The Friedman Center’s surgeons specialize in reconstruction using the DIEP flap.

Learn More About The DIEP Flap

Pedicled Flap

In a pedicled flap, the tissue remains attached to its original blood vessels and is tunneled under your skin to the breast area. In both types of flaps, the tissue is formed into the shape of a breast and stitched into place.

Donor Tissue Sites

The most common flap procedures use tissue from the abdomen for breast reconstruction. At the Friedman Center, we often recommend the DIEP flap procedure because of its advanced microsurgical approach.

For some patients, however, the abdomen may not be the best donor site. Alternative tissue sites for flap reconstruction include the buttock, thigh, or back.

Stacked flap procedures, which combine abdominal tissue with tissue from a second donor site, are another option.

Abdominal Flap

Alternative Tissue Sites

Recovery Time

Recovery from flap reconstructive surgery can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. The time needed for recovery varies from patient to patient, depending on the patient’s general health and level of physical activity. Most patients can return to work in 3-4 weeks and resume light exercise by 6 weeks. Complete healing can take from several months up to a year.

Additional Surgery

Additional (stage 2) surgery may be needed after the initial surgery to make your breasts as symmetrical as possible. Fat grafting (also called lipofilling) may be performed to give the breast a more natural appearance. Cosmetic sculpting procedures are usually far less invasive than the initial surgery. They’re often same-day surgeries and typically have much shorter recovery times.

Do you prefer to use your own tissue for reconstruction?

You may be a good candidate for flap reconstruction if you:

Prefer to use your own tissue instead of an implant
Are not a candidate for implant reconstruction
Have had failed implant reconstruction
Have had radiation to your chest wall

You may not be a good candidate for flap reconstruction if you:

Lack enough tissue to restore the missing breast tissue (in this case, you may want to consider hybrid breast reconstruction)
Have undergone certain abdominal procedures such as an abdominoplasty
Have a history of blood clots or clotting disorders

See the difference between natural tissue and implant reconstruction.

Things to Consider

There are a number of things to think about when choosing which breast reconstruction is right for you. Discuss your concerns and preferences with your plastic surgeon, who will let you know what your best options are.

Your health. Because healthy blood vessels are needed to support the tissue’s blood supply, women who are smokers, have uncontrolled diabetes, poor circulation, or connective tissue disease may not be the best candidates.
Your weight. If you’re very thin, you may want to consider stacked flap surgery or hybrid reconstruction. If you’re very overweight, you may not be a good candidate for reconstructive surgery, as it can put you at high risk for complications.
Surgery on your other breast. Your other breast can be surgically altered at the same time the new breast is created. A breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation can be performed to enhance the symmetry of the breasts.
Scars. Any type of surgery creates scars. Tissue flap surgery creates two scars, one at the breast and one at the donor site. The scars are permanent but will fade over time.
Breast sensation. Your new breast will feel natural to the touch, but because nerves are severed during surgery, the breast itself will have little to no sensation.
Possible complications. Complications may include infection or loss of tissue due to inadequate blood supply, delayed scar healing, and donor site weakness.

Learn more about your options:

Abdominal Flap Reconstruction

Alternative Tissue Sites

Implant Reconstruction

Janet’s expert business acumen, strong commitment to women, and deeply personal experience with oncologic breast surgery and reconstruction has shaped the trajectory of her life and career. In her role at the Friedman Center, Janet is responsible for leading and coordinating program development, patient education and empowerment, public event planning, fundraising initiatives, community outreach, and more.

She strives to ensure every patient is aware of the many resources, support services, and benefits available to them, and she serves as a liason between patients, physicians, and the Northwell Health system.

As someone with a long family history of genetic breast and ovarian cancer, Janet can readily identify with the needs of the patient. She strives to offer a high level of service to all women who have been affected by breast cancer.

Janet aims to make the Friedman Center a place where women have an exceptional experience—warm, comfortable, nurturing, and inviting—and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their reconstructive procedures.

She also devotes her personal time to humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, including the fight against breast and ovarian cancer. As a national volunteer for many years, she has provided education, awareness, and advocacy for nonprofit cancer-related organization.

Janet is a compassionate individual who has dedicated countless hours to help countless women through the challenging journey of breast cancer and breast reconstruction. She plays a pivotal role in creating a positive experience for every patient and is proud to continue her lifelong work in support of women’s issues here at the Friedman Center.

DIEP Flap Procedure:
Advanced Natural Tissue Reconstruction

Natural Tissue (Flap) Reconstruction

Many women like the idea of reconstructive surgery that uses only their own tissue. “Flap” reconstruction uses tissue from another location on your body, so your new breasts feel more like you and as natural as possible.

On this page

Natural tissue (flap) reconstruction uses tissue from another part of your body to form the new breast. The flap, which includes skin, fat, and sometimes muscle, is surgically removed from the abdomen or from alternative donor sites, such as the back, buttock or thigh.

The Most Natural Look and Feel

Different Types of Flap Procedures