Latissimus Flap Breast Reconstruction

Overall health is more important than age. Most (not all) women with breast cancer, at high risk for breast cancer or a history of breast cancer, are safe candidates for the procedure. Skin, fat, and muscle from your back are transferred to your chest to reconstruct your breast(s). The transferred skin and fat are kept alive by leaving it attached to an artery and vein in your armpit. The tissue is then “swung” around to your chest, never being fully disconnected from the body (that is why it is called a “pedicled” flap). The transferred back skin, fat and muscle are then used to cover a breast implant since in most cases there is not enough tissue to provide adequate volume to reconstruct a breast without an implant.