Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Breast Reconstructive Surgery
Reported by Health and Family Reporter Diana Gonzalez
The majority of women who undergo reconstructive breast surgery choose implants. The widely available option called tram flap uses the woman's own abdominal muscle and tissue to rebuild the breast.
Now there's a new technique that's less painful and achieves more natural results. It's only performed by about a dozen surgeons in the country, one right here in South Florida.
Katherine Schemel discussed the finishing touches of reconstruction surgery with her surgeon, Dr. Gary Rosenbaum. In November 2000, she had a double mastectomy. He immediately rebuilt her breasts and she's thrilled with the results.
"A lot of people who've been hugging me when I got back to work and family members didn't know they were hugging a reconstructed breast because it feels wonderful; it feels natural, it looks natural," Katherine said.
Katherine had a procedure similar to what doctors call a deip flap. It involves taking fat and tissue and the connected blood vessel from the abdomen and moving it to replace the breast. It's a microsurgical technique that's technically difficult and takes about six hours in the operating room. Mount Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach is among a small group of hospitals where the procedure is performed.
"Some plastic surgeons don't feel like being involved as far as taking the time to do that length of procedures," said Rosenbaum, who works out of Mount Sinai. "Others don't feel comfortable doing microsurgery."
Rosenbaum says diep flap offers definite advantages to the patient versus the tram flap procedure that requires the use of the abdominal muscle.
"There is up to a 20 percent chance for hernias and bulges with tram flap, where the muscle is taken," he said. "For a woman who is active today, who wants to get back to work, it's very important she doesn't have to sacrifice the abdominal muscle."
According to a recent study in plastic and reconstructive surgery, women experience less pain with a diep flap.
"The recovery was routine. I felt wonderful," Katherine said. "I played tennis. My serve didn't improve, but I played tennis weeks after surgery and I think my total appearance and my outlook on life is A1."
Dr. Gary J. Rosenbaum,
M.D., P.A.
Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Staff Office Pavillion
4302 Alton Rd, Suite 420
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone: (305) 538-7726
Facsimile: (305) 538-7725
Email: info@miamidiepflap.com
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