SGAP (Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator) Flap
Skin and fat is taken from the area of the buttock along with the carefully preserved artery and vein. The flap is transferred to the chest and carefully shaped into a new breast after the vessels are reconnected. Since the donor site sometimes appears more lifted than the opposite, unoperated buttock, a patient may decide to later have the opposite side “lifted” as well.
GAP flaps taken from higher on the buttock are usually based on the superior gluteal artery and called SGAP (Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator) flaps.
At first, the harvest of an SGAP flap may leave a noticeable donor site deformity high on the buttock. This often requires a revision at a later date and generally will leave the donor site scar inside the bikini line.
 
The skin and fat over the superior gluteal artery are utilized to provide circulation for the SGAP flap. The muscle fibers are carefully spread apart to allow gentle removal of the blood vessels, which are then reconnected in the chest using microsurgery.
Read more about breast reconstruction
Read Dr. Granzow's articles from the leading Plastic Surgery Journals
|
