title: Breast reconstruction facilitated by vertical banded gastroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) causes weight loss, which is often associated with redundant abdominal tissue. This redundant tissue can be used successfully for breast reconstruction or breast augmentation in case of mastectomy or ptotic hypotrophic breasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  One patient with bilateral mastectomy is described in whom the weight fell from BMI 52 to BMI 26 after VBG, giving the patient an abdominal "apron", which facilitated bilateral breast reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction after weight reduction following VBG resulted in an esthetic pleasing result with additional correction of the cutis laxa abdominis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous breast reconstruction can be performed safely with the methods used today, after successful weight loss following obesity surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Innsbruck, Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wechselberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schoeller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nehoda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Piza-Katzer
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*