Muscle-flap breast reconstruction is a restorative operation that uses tissue from the patient's own body to build a new breast after mastectomy for cancer or other reasons. A flap containing muscle, skin and fat is moved to the chest to restore the shape and volume of the breast with living tissue, and the treating team decides which approach suits each patient.
The flap is usually taken from the back or abdomen together with its muscle and blood vessels. It is tunnelled under the skin to the chest while staying attached to its blood supply, then shaped into a breast, and an implant is added in some cases. The operation is done under general anaesthesia, takes several hours, and may be performed at the time of mastectomy or later.
A hospital stay of several days is expected, with drains, rest and limited movement for weeks; full recovery may take six weeks or more. Swelling settles gradually, and the final result usually becomes clear after six months to a year.
The final cost is set after a medical consultant reviews your case and photos.
Bilgehan İlker completed his medical education at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine and specialized in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at Dokuz Eylül University. He has performed hundreds of aesthetic and reconstructive procedures and has participated in academic research projects supported by TÜBİTAK. Dr. İlker is also an active member of national and international plastic surgery societies.
Op. Dr. Ali Can Günenc is a physician specializing in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. He completed his medical education between 2007 and 2013 at the Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. He then completed his residency at the University of Health Sciences Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital between 2013 and 2019, earning his title as a specialist. After advancing his professional career at Şişli Etfal and Yalova State Hospital, he currently provides services to his patients at the Medical Park Florya hospital. Dr. Günenc holds the European Board Certificate ...
Asst. Prof. Dr. Emrah Köksal is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medical Park Göztepe Hospital (since 2025). He graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine (2017) and completed his specialty training at Gülhane Military Medical Academy (2017-2023), then worked at Hakkari Yüksekova State Hospital. His focus includes closed rhinoplasty, breast aesthetics, eyelid surgery, face and neck lift, liposuction and BBL, and body contouring lifts.
Prof. Dr. Halil İbrahim Canter is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Liv Hospital Vadistanbul (since 2022). A Hacettepe University graduate, he completed residency and a PhD in plastic surgery there, plus a craniofacial surgery fellowship at Providence Hospital, Michigan (USA). His interests include breast and facial aesthetic surgery, craniomaxillofacial surgery, hand surgery and cleft lip and palate repair.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erdem Güven is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, with the Acıbadem Healthcare Group since 2019. He graduated from Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (1998), qualified there in plastic surgery (2004), and holds subspecialty certification in hand surgery (2011) and oral and maxillofacial surgery (2012). His interests include breast augmentation and reduction, facelift, mommy makeover and Mohs reconstruction.
Prof. Dr. Naci Karacaoğlan is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Medipol Mega University Hospital and head of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Istanbul Medipol University. A 1984 Erciyes University graduate, he specialised in 1991, taught at Ondokuz Mayıs University, became associate professor in 1997 and joined Medipol in 2003, later serving as chief physician and medical faculty dean (2010-2025). He has published widely on flap and burn reconstruction.
Prof. Dr. Necmettin Kutlu is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medicana International Istanbul (Beylikdüzü). He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1982 and specialised in plastic surgery at Ankara University in 1991, later working at Karadeniz Technical University and Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital. His interests are aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, hand surgery and maxillofacial surgery, with publications on flaps and microsurgery.
Dr. Salih Cem Altunal is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at BHT Clinic Istanbul Tema Hospital. He graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine and completed his specialty training at Istanbul Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital. He has since worked at Mersin City Hospital, Kartal City Hospital and Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital. His practice covers rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, breast surgery, BBL, liposuction, face and neck lifts and eyelid surgery.
Prof. Dr. Yakup Çil is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Istanbul Aydın University VM Medical Park Florya Hospital. A 1997 graduate of Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA), he completed his plastic surgery residency there in 2005 and became an associate professor in 2015. He has led plastic surgery clinics at military and city hospitals in Eskişehir, Diyarbakır and Ankara, and focuses on facial and nasal surgery, breast aesthetics, microsurgery and reconstruction.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre Yeğin is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir and Liv Hospital Ulus. He studied medicine at Akdeniz University and completed his residency at Ege University's plastic surgery department, then worked in the plastic surgery and burn units of Ege University Hospital and Elazığ hospitals. His work covers aesthetic surgery, microsurgery, breast and head-and-neck reconstruction, lymphedema surgery and post-bariatric body contouring.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Özkan is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medipol Mega University Hospital and Medipol Acıbadem Regional Hospital. A 2009 graduate of Ege University, he completed plastic surgery training at Başkent University (2015) and worked there as a faculty member until 2024. He performs breast, face, eyelid and body contouring surgery, as well as post-cancer breast reconstruction, microsurgery and skin cancer surgery.
Prof. Dr. Şükrü Yazar is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, with Acibadem since 2005 and professor at Acibadem University since 2013. Trained at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, he gained reconstructive microsurgery experience in Cambridge, Glasgow and at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. He holds the European Board in plastic surgery and board certifications in hand and maxillofacial surgery.
Prof. Dr. Cihangir Tetik is a hand surgeon and microsurgeon at Acibadem Maslak Hospital, with Acibadem since 2007. A 1984 graduate of Ondokuz Mayıs University, he trained in orthopedics in Ankara, in hand surgery and microsurgery at the University of Utah, and in microsurgery research at Cleveland Clinic. Professor at Marmara University from 2005, he founded its hand surgery and microsurgery unit, and treats hand, wrist, nerve and tendon injuries and pediatric hand anomalies.
Prof. Dr. Hakan Ağır is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon and maxillofacial surgeon at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, with Acibadem since 2020. A 1991 Hacettepe University graduate, he trained at Istanbul University and completed craniofacial fellowships in Adelaide, Wellington and at Chang Gung in Taiwan. Professor at Kocaeli University from 2015, he holds the European Board (FEBOPRAS) and treats cleft lip and palate, facial anomalies, rhinoplasty and breast surgery.
Op. Dr. M. Baver Acaban is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medical Park Pendik and Maltepe. He graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2012 and completed plastic surgery training at Mersin University (2015-2020). He worked at Tarsus State Hospital, Mersin City Hospital and Acıbadem Taksim and Fulya hospitals, co-translated the Turkish edition of Kevin Chung's 'Flaps in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery' and has published on free flaps and hand reconstruction. He performs blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facelift, breast, liposuction, tummy tuck and ...
Op. Dr. Hüsrev Purisa is a hand and microsurgery specialist at Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and completed his specialty training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Istanbul University. He worked at İren Hospital from 1998 to 2000 and at Tem Hospital from 2000 to 2018. His practice covers hand and finger injuries, chronic and autoimmune hand disorders, and nail deformities.
Opr. Dr. Ahmet Aydın is a specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery based in Istanbul. He graduated from Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty and completed his specialty training at Erciyes University. He received microvascular surgery training in Taiwan and has worked at Hakkari State Hospital and Medipol Mega University Hospital. He currently sees patients at his private clinic.
Dr. Nargiz Ibrahimli is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Acıbadem Kent Hospital in İzmir. She graduated from Azerbaijan Medical University Faculty of Medicine in 2017 and completed her specialty training in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 2024. She joined the Acıbadem Healthcare Group in October 2024 and has 8 years of medical experience.
Prof. Dr. A. Özlem Gündeşlioğlu is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medicana International Izmir Hospital. A 1993 Ankara University graduate, she specialised at Ankara Dışkapı Training and Research Hospital in 2002 and trained in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Formerly at Necmettin Erbakan University Meram, she performs head and neck and breast reconstruction, rhinoplasty, facial aesthetics and body contouring.
Prof. Dr. Dilek Demirez is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medstar Antalya Hospital. She graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1994 and completed her plastic surgery residency there (1997-2002). She worked at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Abant İzzet Baysal University and Antalya Training and Research Hospital, then at Medical Park Antalya, before joining Medstar Antalya in 2022. She became associate professor in 2011 and professor in 2018. She performs rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, tummy tuck, neck lift and gynecomastia surgery, and treats c...
Prof. Dr. Ümit Naci Karaçal is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Memorial Ankara Hospital, where he also works in the Breast Center. He graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1994 and trained in plastic surgery at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital (1994-1999), where he then served as chief resident. He was a faculty member in plastic surgery at Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon for over two decades (2001-2023) and at İzmir Bakırçay University (2023-2024) before joining Memorial Ankara in 2024. He performs rhinoplasty, breast reduction and...
Dr. Adham Mansour is a specialist plastic surgeon at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, Dubai Healthcare City. He trained as a specialist in plastic surgery and laser in France and is director of the Syrian Center for Plastic Surgery and Laser in Damascus. He is a member of IPRAS and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. His work covers laser liposuction and fat transfer, breast surgery, tummy tucks, facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty and hair transplants.
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It rebuilds the breast with your own tissue, which may feel closer to natural and last a long time, although sensation is usually reduced. An implant may be avoided in some cases. The decision depends on your disease and any radiotherapy.
Women who have had or will have a mastectomy, are fit enough for a long operation, and have enough tissue on the back or abdomen. The surgical and cancer teams decide the timing and method according to the treatment needed.
Tests and imaging are done, chemotherapy and radiotherapy plans are reviewed, and smoking must stop. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own; your treating doctor decides.
Under general anaesthesia the flap is raised with its muscle and vessels, moved to the chest while keeping its blood supply, shaped into a breast and stitched in place. The donor site is then closed.
Expect several days in hospital, drains, and limits on raising the arm and on heavy lifting for weeks, as the team directs. The donor area can feel sore and tight on the back or abdomen during healing.
The shape settles once swelling resolves over months, and results may last for many years. Further procedures may improve symmetry or rebuild the nipple, and the new breast can change with weight.
They include bleeding, infection, fluid collections, poor blood supply to the flap or loss of part of it, and blood clots, which can reach the lungs and be life-threatening. Weakness at the donor site or an abdominal bulge may occur, and another operation may be needed. Smoking greatly raises the risk.
Yes, scars remain on the chest and at the donor site. They fade with time but are permanent, and the surgeon explains where they will be beforehand.
Because clot risk is higher after long operations, doctors usually advise waiting some weeks before a long flight, and your treating doctor confirms the timing after examining you.
Both are possible depending on the case. It may be done immediately or delayed, especially if radiotherapy is needed, and the treating team chooses the best timing.
