How long does it take to recover from TRAM flap surgery?
How long does it take to recover from TRAM flap surgery?
For detailed information on how to care for the dressings, stitches, staples, and surgical drains, visit the Mastectomy: What to Expect pages. It can take about 6 to 8 weeks to recover from TRAM flap reconstruction surgery.
What is a TRAM flap procedure?
A TRAM flap surgery involves moving a section of abdominal muscle along with fat and skin up to the chest. In this procedure, the relocated tissue isn’t cut off from its blood supply. The DIEP flap is more complicated because the new “breast tissue” is freed from the belly.
Is TRAM flap surgery safe?
Plastic surgeons perform the TRAM flap procedure daily and safely for many grateful patients. Because of the magnitude of the procedure, complications can occur even in the best hands.
Is a TRAM flap a free flap?
The “free flap” (microsurgical) TRAM commonly uses the same tissue as the “tunneling” method described above. The main difference in the free TRAM reconstruction is that the tissue, rather than remaining attached, is completely removed from the body.
What happens after flap surgery?
Typically, it only takes a few days to recover from flap surgery. During this time, eat soft, cool foods such as pudding or gelatin. Propping your head with pillows and applying cold or ice packs can minimize bleeding and help relieve pain and swelling.
How long does flap surgery take?
The tiny blood vessels in the flap, which will feed the tissue of your new breast, are matched to blood vessels in your chest and carefully reattached under a microscope. DIEP flap reconstruction surgery takes about 6 to 8 hours.
What kind of mesh is used in TRAM flap reconstruction?
synthetic mesh
No hernia or mesh-related infection were encountered and only one patient had a lower abdominal bulge. We recommend the use of a large synthetic mesh for improved strength and aesthetic quality of the abdominal wall after TRAM flap breast reconstruction.
Does flap surgery hurt?
Most patients experience some discomfort after a flap procedure. Depending on your needs, we may prescribe pain medication or recommend over-the-counter medicine. It is important to relax after surgery, as strenuous activity may cause the treated area to bleed.
How long does breast flap surgery take?
Is DIEP flap same as tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgery where excess abdominal fat and skin is removed. During the procedure, which is called a DIEP flap, the skin and fat is transplanted to the chest area using an advanced microsurgery technique.
Who needs flap surgery?
Candidates for Flap Surgery A flap procedure is typically recommended for patients with moderate to severe gum disease, or periodontitis, that has not responded to non-surgical treatments such as scaling and root planing. Patients with advanced periodontitis can benefit from gum flap surgery.
What is the difference between a flap and a graft?
A “skin graft” is the transfer of a portion of the skin (without its blood supply) to a wound. A “flap” consists of one or more tissue components including skin, deeper tissues, muscle and bone.
How painful is DIEP flap surgery?
Right after the surgery, you will probably feel weak, and you may feel pain for 2 to 3 weeks. You will be sore in the breast and in the area where the flap was taken. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in those areas.
What are the side effects of breast reconstruction surgery?
Possible risks during and after reconstruction surgery
- Problems with the anesthesia.
- Bleeding.
- Blood clots.
- Fluid build-up in the breast or the donor site (for a tissue flap), with swelling and pain.
- Infection at the surgery site(s)
- Wound healing problems.
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
How much does DIEP flap surgery cost?
The researchers determined that the incremental cost of a DIEP flap reconstruction was $21,613 for unilateral reconstructions and $19,052 for bilateral procedures compared with implants.
What is the purpose of a flap graft?
Flap surgery involves transporting healthy, live tissue from one location of the body to another – often to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support.
How do you classify flaps?
The classification of flaps based on blood supply, including the Mathes and Nahai subclassification, can be summarized as follows:
- Random (no named blood vessel)
- Axial (named blood vessel) Mathes and Nahai classification. One vascular pedicle (eg, tensor fascia lata)
How difficult is the recovery from DIEP flap surgery?
Healing and recovery after DIEP flap breast reconstruction can be significantly easier than most patients think. With the implementation of ERAS Protocols, most patients experience little discomfort after surgery, require little if any narcotics, and can be discharged from the hospital after 3 days or less.
How long does breast reconstruction take to heal?
Most women can start to get back to normal activities within 6 to 8 weeks. If implants are used without flaps, your recovery time may be shorter. Some things to keep in mind: Reconstruction does not restore normal feeling to your breast, but some feeling may return over a period of years.
What is the difference between a TRAM flap and DIEP flap?
TRAM flap focuses on using tissue from your abdominal muscles, as well as some soft tissue. DIEP flap spares the abdominal muscle and uses only soft fat tissue and local blood vessels. Each procedure has long recovery times, and similar side effects.
How long does DIEP Flap surgery usually take? For one breast, a DIEP can take 3-4 hours. For both breasts, 6-7 hours. If you are having a mastectomy at the same time, then add 1-2 additional hours.
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.
How are tram flaps used for breast reconstruction?
The transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap procedure is a commonly performed breast reconstruction technique after mastectomy for breast cancer (, 1). Subcutaneous fat from the abdominal wall and all or part of one or both rectus abdominis muscles is transferred to the chest wall to reconstruct the breast (, 2).
What was the average age of TRAM flap surgery?
All CT scans obtained in patients who underwent a TRAM flap procedure at our institution between 1990 and 1997 ( n = 21) were reviewed for the morphology of the reconstructed breast and abdominal wall. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 48.7 years. CT was performed 1–143 months (mean, 39.5 ± 37.1 months) after surgery.
When to have breast reconstruction with flap surgery?
Breast reconstruction with flap surgery is a complex procedure performed by a plastic surgeon. Much of the breast reconstruction using your body’s own tissue can be accomplished at the time of your mastectomy (immediate reconstruction), though sometimes it can be done as a separate procedure later…
Where does the name TRAM flap come from?
The TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous) is a tissue flap procedure that uses muscle, fat and skin from your abdomen to create a new breast mound after a mastectomy. This procedure takes its name from the transverse rectus abdominus muscle in your tummy.