DIEP Flap Vs. LAT Flap for Least Loss of Muscle Strength?

My surgeon says women do fine without a Lattisimus muscle and that women will lose strength anyway in their ab. area from a DIEP, since abdominal muscles are cut through and poked around anyway.

Tags:

DIEP recommendation technique

Comment on this

6 Doctor Answers | Asked by blackoak

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (0)

Breast Reconstruction Options

There are many options for reconstructing your breasts. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. DIEP, if performed by an experience microsurgeon who knows what they are doing, will not cause you to lose strength and result in abdominal weakness. Unlike TRAM procedures where your rectus abdominus muscles are sacrificed during the reconstruction, this does not happen with DIEP procedures. Lattisimus muscle reconstructions can be considered a hybrid between autologous and implant... more

Perry Liu, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.perryliumd.com

DIEP VS. Latissimus Flap Breast Reconstruction

A DIEP flap, if successful, is vastly superior to a Latissimus Dorsi flap in Breast Reconstruction. Using the LD flap involves a visible back scar, needs to be used along with a breast implant and is associated with weakness in pushing oneself out of a deep chair. A DIEP flap is not associated with muscle weakness, the need for a breast implant and has a much more acceptable scar than the one associated with LD flap breast reconstruction. HOWEVER - performing a DIEP flap requires specialized... more

DIEP Flaps is by far the more superior procedure but not all surgeons do a true DIEP

The beauty of the DIEP flap is that it is supposed to leave your rectus muscle untouched. Unfortunately in my opinion too many surgeons cut the muscle or nerves to the muscle during the procedure thus weakening the muscle sometimes to the point that the procedure is no better than a Free TRAM procedure.

DIEP flap if you a candidate is more challenging and rewarding

Lat. flap is an easier option for the surgeon and patient but not comparable in the donor site scar and muscle loss to DIEP. You will get have scar over lower abdomen that easily cover in comparison the back scar. The other concern with the Lat. flap is the lateral fullness and need for implant. If your surgeon feel more comfortable with Lat.,do not push him/her to do other flaps that are more complex and need micro surgery. DIEP is a difficult flap and not plastic surgeon are trained to do... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Simpler approach to breast reconstruction is implants

Without knowing any details of your specific case, the best way to avoid compromizing muscle function in breast reconstruction is with an implant. Often the use of an acellular dermal matrix such as Alloderm is helpful. If you have had radiation treatment, then a flap procedure might make the most sense but in general your quickest recovery time and least effect on function uses an implant.

DIEP flap vs Latissimus Flap and impact on muscle strength

A DIEP flap is a muscle-sparing procedure that utilizes your excess skin and fat in your lower abdomen to reconstruct your breast. It saves your abdominal wall muscles (rectus muscles). There is no need for an implant to reconstruct your breast. The latissimus flap takes the muscle skin and fat from your back to help reconstruction your breast in conjuction with an implant. Although the latissimus procedure takes the entire muscle, studies have shown that there... more