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Center for Breast Reconstruction

SGAP Flap

This procedure requires tissue from your buttock to be detached.

What is SGAP Flap? Who can have this Procedure? Things to Consider Contact Us

What is SGAP Flap?

The SGAP (superior gluteal artery perforator) flap uses this artery and the skin and fat from your upper buttock, attached to blood vessels, to create a new breast. This procedure does not use any muscle to reconstruct the breast.

SGAP is a free flap procedure that requires your surgeon to detach the tissue from your buttock and reattach it to blood vessels in your chest. The procedure requires a longer surgery and recovery time than some other reconstruction procedures.

The donor scar of the SGAP flap is hidden on the upper buttock area. This may be a good choice for a woman who has small breasts with little abdominal tissue. Your surgeon can assess your body shape to guide your flap options.

Diagram of sgap flap procedure

Who can have this Procedure?

SGAP may be right for you if you:

 

  • Prefer a breast reconstruction without an implant and do not have enough tissue in other areas of your body to consider other flap procedures.
  • Have had radiation to the chest wall in the past.

Things to Consider

  • Not all breast reconstructive surgeons have the expertise to perform this complex procedure. ChristianaCare’s Stephanie Caterson, M.D. is very experienced in flap procedures and has performed more than 20 SGAP flaps.
  • SGAP requires a lengthy hospital stay and recovery time.
  • It may not be possible to reconstruct both breasts at once due to the length of the procedure. Bilateral breast reconstruction with SGAP flaps may need to be done in a staged fashion.

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