Latissimus Dorsi flap reconstruction

No where have I found very much info.  I am also looking into this.  Let me know if you find anything out.  That is why I became a member.

I had this procedure done August 2014 on the left side...The radiation and previous surgeries resulted in my skin/tissue to severely break down causing the tissue expander to be exposed...Not a pretty sight...Anyway, the surgery is extensive - muscle and tissue are taken from your back and wrapped around to the front to form the breast mound. The incision on the back is supposed to be cut along the bra line - and, if need be, skin may be retrieved too. I had 3 drain tubes - 2 in the front, and 1 in the back...

I do recommend sleeping in a recliner since it will be hard to get in/out of bed...I was back to work in 6 weeks...I had my 'exchange' 4 months later with no problem. I'm not happy with the way the new skin looks - its cut and stretched in the shape of a football. I have gotten my Vinnie Meyers nipple tattoo last summer - I'm happy with how realistic that looks.

Please message me if you have any other questions.

Andi44

Lorraine5 said:

LAT

Thank you so much.  There are so many decisions to be made and it gets very intense.

 

 The reconstruction process is usually pretty simple for most women – For me, not so much…Having had radiation – caused me to have additional surgeries as it took a toll on my chest – resulting in having this procedure. 

Being a thin person, this surgery was my last chance since I couldn’t have the tram flap.  My surgeon had to make a 1 ½ foot incision - vertically - up and down my back.  (They usually cut along the bra line).  He also had to retrieve skin from my back – for the skin graft on my breast.  That is in the shape of the football – ugh!!!

I do have symmetry in my clothes – which was my ultimate goal.  I want to say, it does not feel anything like a real breast.  If I had to do it again, I don’t think I would have had any reconstruction – unfortunately we don’t have a crystal ball…

I was in the hospital 4 days – I didn’t have much down time at home – took it easy - back to work in 6 wks. Shortly after my surgery, my surgeon started doing the fills.  And, I had my exchange 4 months later.

I do hope this helps and answers some questions…

Wildtulip said:

Thanks, Andi, it does help to

Thanks, Andi, it does help to hear someone's personal experience!

I had a bilateral mastectomy last March, then chemo and radiation. I consulted two plastic surgeons and will meet again with the one I chose in another month. I was told that the LAT flap was the best option for me, and I'm also not a canidate for the tram flap.

One thing that confuses me is that my PS talked about moving some tissue from my back, for blood flow, but I would still have an expander and implant too. I got the impression it would be more internal tissue used, not the skin. I suppose this can vary person to person and it's one of the things that I can question next month. It helps to know what others have been through so you can ask educated questions! 

Wildtulip - (first off, love your screen name) Tulip's & Daisies Are My Favorite Flowers…

Anyway, the PS takes the muscle & fat and the nerves & veins and ‘weaves’ it around to the front – to form a mound.  You may also need a tissue expander to get the ‘desired size’ – and, if so, you’ll have the exchange after all the fills…For me, that breast is still very hard, and they said it would be as the fat and muscle, from the back, is stiffer than in the stomach area...

I do feel a bit of a bulge on the side/under my arm area…it’s nothing that concerns me…And, I pretty much have total mobility (I didn’t think I would at first)…During the healing process, it’s good to do the ‘wall exercise’…walking your arms up and down the wall – I was also told to do this exercise after the mastectomy.

I had to have the skin graft because, the radiation caused my skin to break down…I had horrific gaping wounds that actually exposed my tissue expander…I than chose to go to a new PS…He immediately scheduled surgery to remove the tissue expander, cut off the bad skin, closed me up to heal for 6 months…Than, I was scheduled for the Lat. Flap Surgery…Like I mentioned in my earlier post, if only I had a crystal ball – if I knew I would have to go thru all of that, I wouldn’t have had the reconstruction surgery…I’m small anyway, I could’ve used prosthetics…but, I like to swim and wear swim suits, so I wanted something permanently there…

I do wish you luck, and you can always message me if you have any other questions.