Autologous Reconstruction

Another way to surgically reconstruct a breast is to take your own tissue from an area of your body where you have extra to spare, and move it to your chest. These are so-called autologous procedures. Skin, fat, and muscle can be taken from the abdomen, the back, or the buttock. The tissue can be detached as a free piece and moved. Or, the tissue can remain attached as a "flap" and slid under your skin to a new location on the chest. In both cases, the tissue is sewn into place as a new breast.

The advantage of keeping the tissue flap attached to its original source is that it remains connected to its own blood supply. This increases the chance that the transplanted tissue will thrive and do well in its new location.