GAP Flap Breast Reconstruction - Does It Also Give You a Butt Lift?

SGAP flaps can be an effective way to reconstruct breasts. The challenges (in addition to the typical challenges of performing microsurgery) are typically having enough tissue for an adequate reconstruction. In my practice a second operation may be performed to perform a buttock lift on the non-operated side to achieve symmetry. I hope this helps. Steven Williams, MD

Breast Reconstruction is an important part of breast cancer recovery. Congress has mandated that insurance carriers cover the cost of breast reconstruction for breast cancer survivors. There are many options for breast reconstruction, including breast implants and your own body's tissue. Using tissue from another part of the body is advantageous as it will not be rejected by your body after surgery. This type of breast reconstruction is called 'autologous breast reconstruction.' The most... more

The gluteal free flap reconstructions are not for most patients and do not "lift" the buttock. Rather, they flatten it and create an asymmetry to the other side. Their use should only be in patients who have no excess abdominal tissue, no available latissimus flap, and have been radiated so an implant won't work. Thus, their use is rare and more for salvage situations.

A Gap flap refers to a gluteal artery perforator flap for breast reconstruction. This can either be an I-GAP or an S-GAP glap( inferiorly based or superiorly based) The superiorly based flap(S-GAP) will take tissue from the upper slightly more lateral buttock region as almost a grapefruit wedge with its underlying blood supply and supply a new breast mound for the chest. This will give a small buttock lift to one side of the buttock. The inferiorly based flap( I-GAP) will take tissue... more

The SGAP flap utilizes tissue from the upper buttock and tends to make the upper buttock more concave than before surgery. The IGAP flap takes tissue from the lower buttock and tends to flatten the buttock.  If you are interested in a technique of natural-tissue breast reconstruction that will raise and lift the buttock, a Lumbar Artery Perforator flap (LAP flap) may be of interest to you. This flap uses tissue from the love-handle area for breast reconstruction; this is some... more