7,500th Microsurgical Free Flap Breast Reconstruction PRMA Plastic Surgery

We have exciting news!  We have hit a new major milestone by completing our 7,500th free flap breast reconstruction procedure! This makes PRMA one of busiest breast reconstruction centers in the world.

Microsurgical free flap procedures represent the state of the art in reconstructive breast surgery after mastectomy. The breast tissue removed by a mastectomy is replaced with the patient’s own living tissue from another area of the body (lower abdomen, thigh, buttock, etc.) to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast. With procedures like the DIEP flap or SIEA flapsensory nerve reconstruction can also be performed to restore breast feeling after mastectomy.

Many women travel from across the globe to San Antonio for the sought-after DIEP flap procedure. The procedure uses the patient’s own abdominal skin and fat to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy. Unlike the more widely known TRAM flap, the DIEP preserves all the abdominal muscles. Only abdominal skin and fat are removed similar to a “tummy tuck”. Saving the abdominal muscles means patients experience less pain, enjoy a faster recovery, maintain their core strength long-term, and have a lower risk of complications.

“We are honored to perform today’s advanced breast reconstruction procedures on such a large scale,” says PRMA co-founder Dr. Steven Pisano.

Founded in 1994, PRMA has grown to include a team of seven microsurgeons with two locations and has performed over 8,900 total breast reconstruction procedures for women worldwide.

“Rebuilding lives after breast cancer is our passion,” says co-founder Dr. Peter Ledoux. “It’s incredible to see how many lives the practice has impacted since we opened our doors 24 years ago.”

Author: Dr. Steven Pisano and Courtney Floyd

We have hit a new major milestone by completing our 7,500th free flap breast reconstruction procedure! This makes PRMA one of busiest breast reconstruction centers in the world.

Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter

Online Form – Newsletter Signup

Continue Reading

Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period

Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period December 02, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin During our pre-operative appointment with patients, a topic that occasionally arises is menstrual cycles.  It is completely normal for women to experience changes with their periods throughout breast cancer treatments.  These can be temporary or permanent.  Periods can be unpredictable following […]

Read More

 

What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery

What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery November 17, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin When preparing for breast reconstruction surgery, many patients want to know what types of bras and abdominal girdles they should plan to wear after surgery. Although every surgeon has slightly different preferences, we have put together […]

Read More

 

My 5 DIEP Flap Realities | A Guest Blog From Julie

My 5 DIEP Flap Realities October 28, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hi everyone, my name is Julie from It’s a Bosom Thing. I am so happy to be here as a guest blogger and have this opportunity to share with you a few thoughts about life after DIEP Flap Surgery. I was diagnosed […]

Read More

 

bra day 2020
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap

PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yesterday we celebrated Breast Reconstruction Awareness day! Although we missed seeing everyone in person this year, we were still able to spread education and awareness on ALL reconstructive options through our virtual efforts.  We were also able to share information on […]

Read More

 

Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery

Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin DIEP flap breast reconstruction is typically comprised of at least two stages for the best outcomes.  The second stage of surgery is commonly referred to as the “revision” stage and is usually performed about three months after the initial reconstruction.  The purpose […]

Read More

 

flaps good option for breast reconstruction_ PRMA Plastic Surgery
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them?

If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Flap-based breast reconstruction procedures, like the DIEP flap, offer patients a safe, natural implant-alternative option to reconstruction after a mastectomy.  Flap surgeries are permanent and are associated with fewer complications after radiation when […]

Read More

 

Skin Island in Breast Reconstruction _ PRMA Plastic Surgery
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction?

What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What is a “skin island”? The term “skin island” is used to describe the remaining visible skin from a transplanted “flap” of tissue. In the setting of DIEP flap breast reconstruction, the skin island […]

Read More

 

comparing apex and diep flap
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction August 10, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin We have been receiving numerous inquiries about the “APEX flap” recently.  Patients want to know what it is and how it differs from the DIEP flap. APEX is an acronym that stands for “Abdominal Perforator Exchange”.  Many patients believe […]

Read More

 

Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery PRMA Plastic Surgery
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery

​Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Autologous flap (or tissue) breast reconstruction procedures represent today’s most advanced options for rebuilding a breast(s) following mastectomy. The most commonly performed method of flap-based reconstruction at PRMA is the DIEP flap. During this procedure, surgeons transplant skin […]

Read More

 

COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality PRMA Plastic Surgery
​COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality

​COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin There is still so much we do not know about COVID-19. Likewise, there is little known about how this disease impacts mortality for cancer patients. A study published in The Lancet evaluated and characterized the outcomes of patients with cancer […]

Read More

 

post-img
Prev post

PRMA Patient Shares Her Experience with Hidden Scar Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction

Next post

​What To Expect Between Breast Reconstruction Stages

post-img

1 Comment

  1. Charmaine Damico-Slinkard

    Congratulations Dr. Pisano!!! You all are such a blessing to women in need of these type of surgeries (such as myself). Continued best and successes.