title: Building a breast without a prosthesis. The transverse abdominal island flap.
abstract: Use of the transverse abdominal island flap for breast reconstruction enables the plastic surgeon to redistribute the body's excess fat and skin into more fashionable and aesthetic proportions. The operation remains a complex and detailed procedure. Patient selection, suitability, and preparation for the operation are critical to its success.
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps