Surgical Breast Reconstruction

Ochsner’s team of plastic surgeons coordinate decision-making with dedicated Ochsner breast surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists to tailor care to your specific treatment plan. We work together with our patients to determine the method of breast reconstruction that is best for you.

Our surgeons provide a spectrum of options for breast reconstruction including:

Oncoplastic breast reconstruction (reshaping the breast during a lumpectomy)
Implant-based breast reconstruction
Autologous breast reconstruction (using your own tissue)
Hybrid varieties of each

Our plastic surgeons work together with the breast surgery team, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and physical therapists to individualize your treatment plan and care.

All your Ochsner providers are on a shared electronic medical record offering patients comprehensive care with the same team throughout the course of treatment. Our patients work with Nurse Navigators from Tansey Breast Center who are there to coordinate your care and assist in scheduling appointments. Patients find our system easy to navigate.

Ochsner accepts most major insurance plans for breast reconstruction surgery. For a full listing of accepted insurance plans, click here.

Give us a call at 504-842-3950 to schedule an appointment.

Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction – Oncoplastic breast conservation surgery combines plastic and reconstructive surgery techniques with breast cancer surgery so that the appearance of the breast can be preserved to the greatest extent possible, without compromising local control of disease. It adds an aesthetic approach to lumpectomy by reshaping or rebuilding the breast to maintain a natural look and feel. Along with removing the cancer, it prevents excessive scarring following surgery and radiation.

Autologous Breast Reconstruction – (sometimes called autogenous reconstruction) uses skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from the belly, the back, buttocks, or inner thighs to create the reconstructed breast. The tissue used is called a "flap.” Microsurgical tissue flap options include:

Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) – The DIEP flap is made from tissue from your tummy.
Profunda Artery Perforator (PAP) – A PAP flap is made from tissue from your Posterior thigh.
Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator (SGAP) – Also called a gluteal perforator hip flap, an SGAP flap is made from tissue from your upper buttocks.
Lateral Thigh Perforator (LTP) – The LTP flap procedure is made from skin and fatty tissue from the patient’s upper, outer thigh and outer buttock.
Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery (SIEA) – The SIEA flap, also called a SIEP flap (superficial inferior epigastric perforator) is made from tissue from the lower abdomen.
Inter-coastal Artery Perforator (ICAP) – The ICAP flap is made from tissue taken from under the arm.
Multiple Flaps/Stacked Flaps – This procedure combines different flap procedures to form the breast. It is used for patients who do not have enough excess fat tissue in one site.

Implant-based Breast Reconstruction

Two-stage tissue expander-implant reconstruction
Direct-to-implant reconstruction

Hybrid Options: Latissimus Flap +/- Implant – The latissimus flap is made from tissue from the muscle located below the shoulder and behind the armpit.

Fat Grafting – Fat tissue is removed from areas such as your thighs, belly and buttocks by liposuction. It is then processed into liquid and injected into the breast area to recreate the breast.

Nipple Reconstruction – Nipple and areola reconstruction is an outpatient procedure done after the newly created breast has had time to heal. Tissue comes from the new breast or from another part of the body. Tattooing may be done a few months after the surgery to match the color of the nipple and areola of the other breast. Since our skilled plastic surgeons can make a flat tattoo look 3-dimensional, some women opt for the tattoo only.

Cosmetic Breast Procedures