Overall satisfaction with a Latissimus Flap

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LPIN
LPIN Member Posts: 3
edited February 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

I was told by my PS that my only real option for reconstruction, due to radiation, is a latissimus flap. I am too small to have any other type of flap. My biggest fear is having chronic pain from the flap, I realize there will be post op pain of course the first 6-12 months. I am wondering how people are doing long term with this flap? I am considering just removing the expanders and not have any reconstruction. I would really appreciate any feedback. Do the vast majority of people do well with this flap? Thank You!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2016

    Hi LPIN, and welcome! We're sorry that you had to find us, but we are glad you did, and we hope you find this community to be a helpful resource!

    Other members will surely post with personal experiences and advice but, in the meantime you may want to check out this other related Topic: Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction

    Hope this helps!

    The Mods

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  • Ruth7733
    Ruth7733 Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2016

    Hi LPIN,

    I can't tell you about long term as I just had the procedure a little over 4 weeks ago myself. I can tell you that I have had a few different surgeons over the last 14 years attempt to expand my radiated skin with just an expander. Each time I ended up with a pretty serious infection which put me in the hospital for a week or longer. And each time the expander had to be removed before the infection would go away. You mention that you are thinking of just removing the expanders. Does this mean you have already had the skin stretched without any problems? If so, why the need for the flap? Thin skin?

    This is the first time I've made it past 3 or so weeks without an infection so I'm very hopeful about this procedure. I saw my surgeon today and he's pleased with how well my skin looks.

    It hasn't been easy... In fact it's been a pretty uncomfortable month. But I've been flat chested for the last 14 years, so the discomfort has been worth it to me.

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  • LPIN
    LPIN Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2016

    Hi Ruth!

    Thank you for responding, I hope you are feeling better! It sounds like you have been through a lot!

    Initially, after my bilateral mastectomy, one of my expanders had to be removed because of infection. It has since been replaced without any issues. My surgeon feels that because of my radiation history, I have a 40% chance of a simple implant not working. He informed me that if it fails that could mean another 4 surgeries.

    I would love to avoid a flap, but the risks just seem to high, and I can't imagine facing that many more surgeries!

    I followed a thread about a chronic pain issues with the Lat flap that really has scared me! I am just reaching out to see if see if that is the norm! I hope not!

    I hope you feel better with every day, keep me posted!

    Lori



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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited January 2016

    Hi Lori,

    I, too, had no other option due to radiation damage. I was so very reluctant to have the LD, and although not as easy as my other side (which was reconstructed without the LD) I am glad that I did it (last May).

    I am small breasted, and am not yet done (scheduled for fat grafting in Feb) but I doubt that I would be happy if I left it flat.

    Regardless of procedure, you will find some people with unhappy stories to tell, but I do think most people report problems rather than the opposite.

    As always, find a ps who performs the procedure frequently.

    Please dont hesitate to message me if you have any questions!


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  • IzzyF
    IzzyF Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2016

    I had immediate reconstruction with LD flap one year ago. My discomfort is caused by the implant that went with it, rather than the LD itself. In fact this morning I went to see my ps about getting the implant removed and doing fat grafting instead. I just saw your post as I logged on here to find out more about fat grafting.

    If you've already had radiation, can you just get the implant without the LD? I had the LD in order to protect the implant during the radiation that followed my surgery. The flap itself, if you're slender around the back, does not actually provide a lot of tissue. The ps today told me that with larger women it is possible to get a lot of their own tissue in the flap. I was really surprised that the bulk of my reconstructed breast was from the (very small) implant as opposed to the flap when I saw my X-ray from the radiologist.The flap was a very thin perimeter, at most a centimeter.

    That said, except for the lack of any feeling around the scar tissue on my back (which is a little weird when I get an itch but anyway), I don't notice any back/strength issues from the flap. Any mobility issues I have are from the lymph node removal rather than the flap.

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited January 2016

    I had bilateral LD flaps recon 5 years ago. Very happy with the outcome. I had to have a couple of small procedures for revisions, not surgeries, just a quick snip at the ends of the back flaps to get rid of uneven ends and dog ears under my arms on the edges of the flaps. I am quite active & don't find I have any problems. I took the fills very slowly, only have fills every 3 weeks as I didn't want any problems. My PS was very well versed in the procedure which I think is important.

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  • Wannie
    Wannie Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2016

    I had Breast Cancer 20 years ago, had radiation, no lymph node involvement..... In April, I was dx with a tiny DCIS in the same breast.Rather than to "wait and see", I opted for a mastectomy, and reconstruction.I have the expander in, and have done all the fills necessary, and now my PS tells me the skin is too thin and not healthy d/t the radiation and said there is only a 1 in 3 chances it will work.I was going to have a lift to the opposite breast after the implant surgery. He suggested a Latissimus Dorsi flap. I have read, and researched this surgery, which will be more involved than my mastectomy. I am very active older woman and and artist, golfer,gardner..... Am trying to decide if this surgery will interfere with my life style. I am leaning in the direction to having the expander removed and going " flat"... I have not spoken to anyone personally who has had this surgery and am indecisive.

    Would be happy to hear from women who have had this done... Thank you!



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