Meanwhile, breast reconstruction has also evolved. Pedicled muscle flaps (local muscle flaps with overlying skin and soft tissue) such as latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus flaps helped provide natural options earlier in the evolution of breast reconstruction. A better understanding of skin and soft tissue anatomy combined with progressive surgical techniques to include microsurgical procedures has introduced perforator-based free flap options as a completely natural and reliable option for breast reconstruction using your own tissue.
Perforator-based free flap options (see below) offer reconstructive options using your own tissue while minimizing the risks to the donor site (sites where tissue is taken from). The donor sites can also provide an improvement in body contouring of the site they are taken from (see perforator flap options).
Breast implants and surgical approaches have also improved for improvements in safety and reconstructive results. In addition to these advancements, fat grafting techniques have been well described and serve as a reliable option to improve outcomes in conjunction with other techniques.