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Center for Breast Reconstruction
TRAM Flap
TRAM breast reduction surgery utilizes the lower abdominal tissue.
What is TRAM Flap?
TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap is a type of breast reconstruction surgery utilizing the lower abdominal tissue. In this flap procedure, we use transverse rectus abdominis, the “six pack” muscle in the central abdomen — along with skin, fat and blood vessels — to reconstruct the breast.
TRAM may be done as either a pedicle flap (which means the lower abdominal tissue remains attached to the body and is rotated under the skin to the chest area without cutting its blood supply) or a free flap (which means the lower abdominal tissue is disconnected from the body and reattached in the chest area).
Both a pedicle TRAM and a free TRAM require removal of the rectus abdominis muscle from its natural location which will result in loss of core strength. Usually a piece of synthetic mesh is required to repair the defect left after removal of the abdominal muscle, which can put patients at risk for abdominal hernias or bulges.
