LD flap surgery is usually done in a 'pedicled' fashion. This means the skin, fatty tissue and muscle are moved from the back to the chest through a ‘tunnel’ made under the skin of the armpit. The blood vessels supplying the tissue flap remain intact.

Permanent breast implants may be inserted during the operation. Some women have tissue expanders inserted to stretch the skin and muscle to the right size before the implants are inserted. If this is the case, a second operation may be needed later to replace the tissue expanders with permanent breast implants.

LD flap breast reconstruction surgery usually takes 3–4 hours.

Find out more about:

• Post-operative recovery after a LD flap breast reconstruction
• Living with a breast reconstruction
• Images of breast reconstruction
• Questions to ask your breast reconstruction surgeon