Before and after bilateral skin sparing mastectomies and TUG (inner thigh) free flap breast reconstruction in a 58 year old woman. She had an invasive cancer on the right that required removal of her nipple and areola. She chose to have the same procedure on the left side. She did not want to have implants and traveled from another state to San Francisco for surgery.
At the same procedure as her mastectomies, bilateral inner thigh skin and fat was transplanted microsurgically to the chest to reconstruct her breasts. Since the inner thigh tissue is harvested as a crescent and then coned to create a beautiful projecting breast shape, an immediate nipple and areola reconstruction was possible at the same time!
A lift of the breasts was achieved as part of her TUG flap breast reconstruction. All puckers around the areola circle will relax and flatten by around 6 weeks postoperatively.
The inner thigh skin is naturally pigmented darker than the chest skin in many patients. Later tattoo of the new nipple and areola can provide a more natural color to the nipple and areola reconstructions.
Very early follow up photos are shown at just a week after surgery. Her thigh dressings are still in place; most thigh drains are kept in place at least 10 days after surgery to avoid fluid buildup (seroma) in this area of constant motion with walking. She stayed in the Bay Area for 3 weeks after surgery and then flew home to continue recovery.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
