This technique involves tissue with its own blood supply (muscle flap with skin islands) being transplanted from the back to the breast region, after first being detached from its underlying tissue and then rotated from back to front. The new breast mound is formed using this tissue. Depending on the size of the healthy breast, an implant may also need to be inserted to achieve the same dimensions as the breast on the opposite side.
Reconstruction using back muscle (transposition of the latissimus dorsi muscle) - a fan-shaped muscle on the back - occurs when the amount of soft tissue around the breast region is inadequate, or radiotherapy has already been performed.
Before/after pictures
Before After
Illustrations
The flat back muscle with skin island is rotated from back to front complete with blood vessels to replace the missing skin and soft tissue (back view)
The flat back muscle with skin island is rotated from back to front complete with blood vessels to replace the missing skin and soft tissue (breast view)
Scar lines after reconstruction completed
Scar lines where tissue removed from back
