Before and after right breast delayed TUG flap reconstruction and left balancing mastopexy in a 46-year-old breast cancer survivor. After a right mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, her right implant became infected and required emergent removal. She was dissuaded from another implant for reconstruction, so she sought an autologous tissue option.
She had little abdominal fat but sufficient upper inner thigh tissue to use as a TUG flap. Her left upper inner thigh was harvested as a free flap and microvascularly transplanted to the right chest as a transverse upper gracilis flap. At the same time, a left breast lift was performed.
Six months later, nipple reconstruction was performed using a left-to-right free nipple graft and medical tattoo created a new areolar circle on the right. Follow up photos are shown 1.5 years after surgery, with a restored body image and freedom to go without a bra – and without a breast prosthesis ever again!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
