Use of a sliding flap from the abdomen to provide cover in breast reconstructions.

A method of breast reconstruction after mastectomy, using wide undermining of the chest and abdominal skin and advancement of the latter upward to create a pocket, is described. A double-lumen silicone prosthesis is inserted to create the mound, and various methods for nipple-areolar construction are described. The method has been in use for 20 years, and it has been quite satisfactory when the deficiency in the chest wall cover is not too large.