The complete online resource for DIEP flap breast reconstruction by Dr. Mahyar Foumani: explainer, step-by-step procedure, week-by-week recovery, complications, FAQs, video library, and patient education from the book Breast Reconstruction Explained.

Gluteal flap breast reconstruction (SGAP and IGAP) uses tissue from the buttocks to rebuild the breast when abdominal tissue is not available. Surgery takes 5 to 8 hours, preserves all gluteal muscles, and produces natural-looking results. Includes 3D surgical animation, recovery timeline, and FAQs by Dr. Foumani.

Looking for 3D animated videos of breast reconstruction surgery? Watch free animations by Dr. Foumani covering DIEP flap, implant-based reconstruction, Grisotti flap, and more.

Learning that you carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change is a life-changing moment. These gene changes greatly raise the lifetime risk of breast cancer — up to about 72% for BRCA1 carriers and up to about 69% for BRCA2 carriers. For many women facing this, a preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy — removing both breasts before any cancer develops — is a strong way to take control of their health. But this decision is about far more than the surgery itself. To make a choice that fee

For women looking at breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, the idea of rebuilding a breast entirely from your own body — with no implant and no major flap surgery — may sound almost too good to be true. Yet advances in fat grafting, also called lipofilling or fat transfer, have made this a real and increasingly refined option for carefully chosen patients. The approach uses fat taken from other parts of your body to slowly build a new breast mound over several sessions. I

After breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy, many women notice changes in the shape of their treated breast. A small dent, an indentation, or a subtle asymmetry can develop over time as radiation effects cause tissue contraction and firmness. While these changes are usually mild, they can affect confidence and comfort. Fat grafting — also known as lipofilling — offers a remarkably effective and minimally invasive solution for correcting these small breast defects us

After months, or even years, of breast reconstruction, the moment finally comes when the breast shape is complete, and attention turns to one last, deeply personal detail: the nipple and areola. For many women, this final step turns a reconstructed breast from looking surgical into looking like theirs. It is the finishing touch that completes the picture in the mirror, and it often marks the true emotional end of the journey. This guide walks you through every option, from su

When breast cancer is in the inner (medial) part of the breast, a lumpectomy can leave a clear dent that is hard to repair. For tumours in the outer breast, techniques like the LICAP flap work very well. But inner-breast dents have long had fewer reliable options. The AICAP flap — short for Anterior Intercostal Artery Perforator flap — changes that. It is a technique made specifically to rebuild the inner breast after a lumpectomy. What Is the AICAP Flap? The AICAP flap is an

When a breast tumour is in the upper or outer (side) part of the breast, a lumpectomy can leave a large gap that changes the breast’s shape. For women with smaller breasts, or larger tumours in these areas, simply rearranging the tissue may not give enough volume to restore a natural look. This is where the LICAP flap — the Lateral Intercostal Artery Perforator flap — offers an effective solution that combines removing the cancer with reshaping the breast in one operation (an

Discover why secondary (delayed) breast reconstruction after cancer treatment offers unique advantages including emotional clarity, better surgical outcomes, and the full range of reconstruction options. Learn how waiting can bring peace of mind.

Radiation therapy is one of the most important things that affects the result of breast reconstruction. Maybe you are planning reconstruction before, during, or after radiation. Either way, it helps to understand how radiation changes your tissue, so you can make good decisions with your surgical team. This guide explains what radiation does to breast tissue, and how that shapes your reconstruction options. How Radiation Changes Breast Tissue Radiation therapy targets cancer

Facing a mastectomy brings a flood of decisions about reconstruction. Many women know about implant or flap options. But fewer know about the Goldilocks technique — a gentle method that uses your own leftover breast skin and fat to build a small breast mound, in the same operation. This article covers what you need to know about the types of mastectomy, and how the Goldilocks procedure offers a meaningful middle ground between full reconstruction and going flat. Mastectomy: T

Are you thinking about breast reconstruction after a mastectomy? The Latissimus Dorsi (LD) flap is one of the most reliable and flexible options. This method uses tissue from your back — the latissimus dorsi muscle, with the skin and fat on top — to rebuild the breast. Unlike the DIEP flap, the LD flap stays connected to its own blood supply during the whole operation. This makes it a very safe procedure, with a very low risk of the flap failing. Understanding the Latissimus

A DIEP flap rebuilds the breast using skin and fat from your lower belly. The tissue is moved to the chest, where its blood vessels are reconnected under a microscope to keep it alive. The operation takes 4 to 8 hours for one breast. It keeps all your belly muscles, needs a 5 to 7 day hospital stay, and gives a natural-looking, natural-feeling breast that becomes a permanent part of your body. How Does DIEP Flap Reconstruction Work? The operation has five main steps: A CT or

Implant-based breast reconstruction has three main options: (1) the two-stage tissue expander followed by a permanent implant, (2) direct-to-implant reconstruction with no expander, and (3) combined devices such as the Becker expander-implant. The full process takes 4 to 6 months. The surgery itself is 1 to 2 hours per stage. And modern implants (silicone gel or saline) usually last 10 to 20 years before replacement is considered. This guide explains each option, who it suits

Breast-conserving surgery, often called a lumpectomy, lets you keep your natural breast while still treating the cancer well. Unlike a mastectomy, which removes the whole breast, a lumpectomy removes only the tumour and a small edge of healthy tissue around it. This keeps most of your breast. Combined with radiation, it treats the cancer effectively. Still, even though a lumpectomy keeps most of the breast, it can sometimes change the breast’s shape or make the two sides look

Immediate reconstruction turns the moment of loss into the start of rebuilding. You can wake up from cancer surgery with the first steps of your new breast already done. When breast cancer enters your life, you face many decisions. Beyond treating the cancer itself, there is the question of what to do after the tumour is removed. For women having a mastectomy, immediate reconstruction — rebuilding the breast in the same operation — is a valuable option. It supports both physi

This article is based on the book “Breast Reconstruction Explained” by Dr. Mahyar Foumani. The type of breast cancer surgery you have — a mastectomy or a lumpectomy — shapes your reconstruction options and your result. Each one gives a different starting point for rebuilding, with its own possibilities and points to weigh. When you understand these differences, you can make well-informed choices that fit both your own wishes and your medical situation. Only when you have a cl

Where can I watch 3D animations of breast reconstruction techniques? Are you a patient or medical student looking for 3D animations of breast reconstruction? There is now a resource just for that: breastreconstructionsurgeon.com. The platform was made by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Mahyar Foumani, and is based on his book Breast Reconstruction Explained. It publishes multimedia content, including animations, to help you understand surgical steps that a still image