Skip to content

Reconstruction options for thin skin?

Page last modified on: October 15, 2008
Question from UandM: I had a tissue expander then an implant after my mastectomy. It started leaking and was removed and now the plastic surgeon says my pocket skin is too thin for another implant. What does this mean and how can I have my breast reconstructed now?
Answer —Joseph Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S.: If the overlying skin is too thin, the alternatives are to do a latissimus dorsi flap in combination with an implant. That will bring healthier skin and muscle from the back around to the chest so that the overlying soft tissue can be successfully expanded and then accept a permanent implant. The alternative is to not use any implant and use a TRAM flap or one of its muscle-preserving alternatives.

On Wednesday, May 16, 2007, the Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Reconstruction Updates. Joseph Serletti, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about breast reconstruction.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Joseph M. Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S. is professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a pioneer in the field of free flap autologous breast reconstruction.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.