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CANCER TREATMENTS > SURGERY > BREAST RECONSTRUCTION > TYPES OF BREAST RECONSTRUCTIONHow is breast reconstruction carried out?
There are three main types of breast reconstruction:
- Reconstruction using an implant of some kind.
- Tissue flap reconstruction, in which skin, muscle and fat from your back or abdomen (tummy) is tunnelled through to the chest to create a new breast. The skin, muscle and fat stays connected to the area of the body from which it was taken.
- Free flap reconstruction, in which skin and fat from your lower abdomen, or occasionally buttock, is grafted to the breast area. The skin and fat is completely removed from the original area and a new blood supply is created for the new breast tissue, using microsurgery.
Content last reviewed: 01 August 2005
Page last modified: 05 January 2006
Page last modified: 05 January 2006