What is TUG flap breast reconstruction?
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 – Plastic, Reconstructive & Microsurgical Associates (PRMA) of South Texas, a leading breast reconstruction surgery practice in San Antonio, is now offering women the Transverse Upper Gracilis (TUG) flap procedure to restore their breasts after mastectomy.
PRMA plastic surgeons specialize in breast reconstruction after breast cancer, with particular expertise in advanced microsurgical techniques using the patient’s own living tissue. “Increasingly, women facing mastectomy prefer new breasts sculpted from their own skin and fat, thereby avoiding the problems that often occur with implants,” says Dr. Chrysopoulo.
Breasts shaped from living tissue have a natural look and feel that can’t be achieved using implants or temporary prostheses. “While most patients prefer the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap technique which uses a woman’s lower abdominal tissue, it is a technique that may not be an option for those who have had previous tummy tucks, who don’t have adequate abdominal fat, or who prefer not to scar their abdomens.
TUG flap surgery is a viable option for these women; a way to restore their natural breasts with excellent results.” Both the TUG and DIEP flap procedures are complex, technically demanding microsurgical procedures requiring special skill and experience. During the TUG procedure, surgeons transplant a flap of skin, tissue, and muscle from a woman’s upper thigh to her chest. The process has distinct advantages compared to other types of natural tissue breast reconstruction: thigh tissue has superior contour, shape, and projection; loss of the muscle does not inhibit an individual’s mobility or function; scarring is not easily visible, and the procedure produces a cosmetic thigh lift as well as a new breast.
TUG flap surgery allows a woman to come out of the operating room the same way she went in,” says Chrysopoulo. “With nice-sized natural breasts in place.” The TUG flap is an excellent post-mastectomy option for women who have a mastectomy to either treat or prevent breast cancer.
Candidates for the TUG are women who:
- have small to medium-sized breasts.
- want to avoid an abdominal scar.
- lack sufficient abdominal tissue for DIEP breast reconstruction.
- have had a previous tummy tuck or other abdominal surgery.
PRMA board-certified surgeons routinely offer both reconstructive and cosmetic breast procedures and perform more than 400 microsurgical breast reconstructions annually for patients from Texas and across the U.S.
Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo
TUG flap surgery allows a woman to come out of the operating room the same way she went in,” says Chrysopoulo. “With nice-sized natural breasts in place.” The TUG flap is an excellent post-mastectomy option for women who have mastectomy to either treat or prevent breast cancer.
Leave Comment
Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter
Continue Reading
A Year in Review at PRMA – 2020
A Year in Review at PRMA – 2020 December 28, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin The COVID-19 global pandemic is an event that has made 2020 a year like no other. It can be hard to feel optimistic or reflect on the good with a year full of unprecedented change. “This past year has […]
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Opioid Use After Breast Reconstruction with ERAS Protocol
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Opioid Use After Breast Reconstruction with ERAS Protocol December 16, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin A study presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium reported that women with breast cancer may be at a high risk of developing a chronic opioid addiction following mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. […]
Hospital Stay After DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: What to Expect
Hospital Stay After DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: What to Expect December 09, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Following DIEP flap breast reconstruction, patients are typically in the hospital for about 2-3 days. During that time, patients often wonder what they should expect. Here is what a typical hospital stay for PRMA patients entails… Flap […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap October 22, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
No Comments