GAP Surgery
GAP FLAP BREAST RECONSTRUCTION BATON ROUGE, LA
Buttock Donor Site Breast Cancer Surgery
Women who do not have an adequate amount of abdominal tissue for DIEP Flap reconstruction may be eligible for GAP (gluteal artery perforator) flap breast reconstruction. This procedure is a muscle sparing procedure that uses excess skin and fat from the gluteal (buttock) area.
There are two types of GAP Flaps:
- SGAP (Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator)
- IGAP (Inferior Gluteal Artery Perforator)
The two different GAP Flaps refer to the two different sections of the gluteal artery used. For the SGAP(the Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator), the part of the gluteal artery used for this procedure is located more toward the top of the buttocks area and the incision will be toward the top of your hips or “love handle” area. For the IGAP(Inferior Gluteal Artery Perforator), the part of the gluteal artery used for this procedure is located more toward the bottom of the buttocks area, and the incision area is discretely in the crease of the buttocks. The incision area and portion of the gluteal artery used for these two procedures is the main difference between the two.
- Women with an inadequate amount of abdominal tissue for other reconstruction may be eligible for GAP Flap
- “Buttock Lift” is an added bonus
- “Love handle” slimming is an added bonus, depending on donor area(sGAP)
- Muscle Sparing – does not use muscles for reconstructed breasts.
- Muscle sparing quickens recovery time and much needed core strength is retained
- Usually one breast is reconstructed at a time for patients undergoing bilateral GAP reconstruction
SOME BENEFITS OF GAP FREE FLAP INCLUDE:
BUTTOCKS REDUCTION / RESHAPING – One of the unique benefits of the GAP Free Flap procedure over other autologous flap surgical options is that it often results in a reshaped buttocks and/or “love handle” area after surgery. The placement of the tissue donor site at the lower or upper buttocks is similar to a “butt lift”, and the effect of taking the tissue from this site is much the same. The buttocks and/or love handle area is left tighter, slimmer, or more shapely after the procedure, the similar as it would be after a butt lift.
NATURAL LOOK – Aesthetically, muscle-sparing procedures result in a much more natural and symmetrical breast appearance and feel than implant reconstruction because they use the patient’s own living tissue to reconstruct the breast. Appearance aside, the GAP Free Flap, similar to the DIEP Free Flap procedure, also results in a quicker recovery and more core strength retention. Additionally, you avoid all the high complication risks which may occur using a breast implant; such as, capsular contracture, infection or bottoming out. In order to correct any of these issues it would require a second surgery, which most women would like to avoid.
MORE RECONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES
KEY INFORMATION
- The iGap and sGap flap are some of the most advanced forms of breast reconstruction procedures available today
The GAP Flap uses the patient’s own buttocks skin and fat tissue to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast after their mastectomy
Unlike the dated TRAM flap, the GAP flap preserves all of the abdominal muscles
Women also enjoy the added benefit of a reshaped and/or reduced buttocks with results that mimic a “butt lift”
Added bonus of slimmer “love handle” area with sGAP
A team of two microsurgeons performs every procedure
To learn if you are a iGAP or sGAP flap candidate or to schedule a consultation, please contact us here or call us on 225-218-6108
Plan Your Procedure
GAP Breast Reconstruction surgery carried out by a breast reconstructive surgeon in Baton Rouge and New Orleans is 100% covered by insurance by law. Dr. Theunissen performs GAP breast reconstructions for his patients at a hospital in a state-of-the-art O.R. in Baton Rouge or New Orleans with the support of another experienced microsurgeon and licensed staff. This also includes a full-time Anesthesiologist to ensure optimal care for each patient. Dr. Theunissen’s success rate exceeds 99%, which is higher than the national average. The National Average surgery time for a double breast reconstruction is 10 hrs. Dr. Theunissen performs most double GAP reconstructions in 5 – 6 hours. This helps reduce risk and recovery time for his patients. The average recovery time for a GAP Flap Reconstruction is roughly 4 weeks after 3 nights hospital stay.
Average Cost
$0 OUT OF POCKET
Recovery Time
4 WEEKS
Average Procedure Time
DR THEUNISSEN: 5 – 6 HRS
NATIONAL AVG: 10HRS
Procedure Recovery Location
3 NIGHT HOSPITAL STAY
WHERE
BATON ROUGE OR NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL
INSURANCE
INSURANCE COVERS 100% OF ALL BREAST RECONSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING GAP FLAP RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY
KEY INFORMATION
- The iGap and sGap flap are some of the most advanced forms of breast reconstruction procedures available today
- The GAP Flap uses the patient’s own buttocks skin and fat tissue to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast after their mastectomy
- Unlike the dated TRAM flap, the GAP flap preserves all of the abdominal muscles
- Women also enjoy the added benefit of a reshaped and/or reduced buttocks with results that mimic a “butt lift”
- Added bonus of slimmer “love handle” area with sGAP
- A team of two microsurgeons performs every procedure
- To learn if you are a iGAP or sGAP flap candidate or to schedule a consultation, please contact us here or call us on 225-218-6108
