I had a bilateral tram flap surgery in 2008 can it be reversed?
I feel as though this surgery was the biggest mistake of my life! I'm in constant pain and discomfort and have a hernia that hurts often. My plastic surgeon told me that it can be reversed. What would that entail? All I know is that I can no longer do the simplest things and will have to quit my job. I can't find anything anywhere about a tram reversal. Please help me!
Yes, a TRAM Flap can be a rather big operation. Once performed it is very unlikely that anyone can/ could return you back to your original pre-surgery state. Your hernia hopefully is the issue that needs to be addressed to improve your symptoms. Consider someone in your area that is very familiar with Abdominal Wall Reconstruction. These procedures can also be somewhat complicated & can require a surgeon with some experience for a good outcome. Consider a ABMS Plastic Surgeon in your area in a University or Medical School setting.
Best,
Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS
Once a part of our bodies have been operated on, it is forever changed. As stated, the tissue used to reconstruct the breast can be removed and may be replaced with implant based reconstruction. In terms of the abdomen, it depends on whether you had a pedicle tram flap, a microvascular free tram flap or DIEP flap. If you had a pedicle tram flap, it is unlikely that the muscle could be returned to the abdomen and function as before. I would recommend that you review your surgery, and the proposed repair of your abdomen with your surgeon.