What is a free flap repair?

Free flap surgery, also called free tissue transfer, is a reconstructive surgery technique that involves the transfer of skin from one area of the body to another. The tissue that's being transferred is still linked to a major vein or artery. The transferred tissue is attached to an injured area via a graft or flap.

What is a free flap surgery?

A type of surgery used to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy. A tissue flap, including blood vessels, skin, fat, and sometimes muscle, is removed from one area of the body, such as the back or abdomen. It is then reattached to the chest to form a new breast mound.

What is the difference between a flap and a free flap?

A flap is any piece of tissue that is moved to cover a wound. A free flap is a piece of tissue that is disconnected from its' original blood supply, and is moved a significant distance to be reconnected to a new blood supply.

What is an example of a free flap?

An example of "free flap" could be a "free toe transfer" in which the great toe or the second toe is transferred to the hand to reconstruct a thumb.

How long does it take for a free flap to heal?

Traditionally, after resection of oral cancer and free flap reconstruction, patients are given nothing by mouth for between 6 and 12 days to allow adequate time for healing and to reduce the risk of dehiscence.

What Is a Free Flap Surgery?

What are the benefits of free flap surgery?

One of the main advantages of free flap surgery is the ability to restore appearance and function to larger areas. Also, free flap tissue does not naturally contract in the same way that skin graft tissue does.

What are the complications of free flap surgery?

Donor site complications may occur during harvesting of the free flap and include wound dehiscence, surgical site infection, hematoma, seroma, scar formation, and skin graft failure.

What is flap surgery used for?

Flap surgery involves the transfer of a living piece of tissue from one part of the body to another, along with the blood vessels that keep it alive. It may be used for a variety of reasons, including breast reconstruction, open fractures, large wounds, and, in rare cases, for improving a cleft lip and palate.

Is a free flap a skin graft?

What's the difference between a graft and a flap? A graft is just the skin without a blood supply, whereas a flap is transferred with its blood supply intact. With a flap, larger amounts of tissue can be used, including muscle if required. Some reconstructions need both a flap and a graft.

Is a flap considered a graft?

How does a flap differ from a graft? A flap is transferred with its blood supply intact, and a graft is a transfer of tissue without its own blood supply. Therefore, survival of the graft depends entirely on the blood supply from the recipient site. Flap surgery is a subspecialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

How effective is flap surgery?

A flap procedure can save teeth affected by gum disease. Once you heal from a gum flap surgery, your gums should be pink and healthy again and you can prevent the recurrence of gum disease by brushing at least twice and flossing at least once per day.

Which is better flap or graft?

Skin flaps are thought to provide better cosmetic results than skin grafting (Fig. 5), as the skin tone and texture are usually better matched. Additionally, they have a reduced chance of failure in comparison to skin grafts.

Is flap a reconstruction?

Breast Reconstruction Using Your Own Tissue (Flap Procedures) A tissue flap procedure (also known as autologous tissue reconstruction or tissue-based reconstruction) is one way to rebuild the shape of your breast after surgery to remove the cancer.

How long does it take to recover from skin flap surgery?

In most instances, the donor site will heal in approximately 1-2 weeks after surgery.

How long does a flap surgery take?

DIEP flap or tissue flap breast reconstruction can be performed immediately following a mastectomy or as delayed reconstruction. Patients will be given general anesthesia before surgery. The surgery takes four to six hours, but it can take longer if performed along with a mastectomy.

Will a skin flap reattach?

If the skin tear is large and there is a flap, your healthcare provider can sometimes maneuver the flap back into place, at least partially. The flap itself will shrink when it is torn so it will always look smaller.

Which kind of surgery is also known as flap surgery?

Flap reconstruction (also called tissue-based reconstruction) is a procedure that involves moving healthy, live tissue from one location on your body to another. Usually this live tissue is moved to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support.

Do they put you to sleep for flap surgery?

Flap surgery is typically done under local anesthesia, sometimes accompanied by oral anti-anxiety medications; alternatively, it may be performed under intravenous conscious sedation. After anesthesia has taken effect, a small incision is made to separate the gums from the teeth.

What to expect after flap surgery?

You will be sore in the breast and in the area where the flap was taken. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in those areas. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day, although you may need pain medicine for a week or two. You may get tired easily or have less energy than usual.

How long do you stay in hospital after flap surgery?

After DIEP flap surgery, you stay in the hospital for two to five days. Your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions about: How to care for your incision at home, including emptying drains. Medicines to take and avoid.

Is flap surgery like a tummy tuck?

While we often say that a DIEP Flap procedure is like getting a tummy tuck, the focus of the surgery is natural breast reconstruction. Some patients may see results with the same toning and tightening as a tummy tuck, but others may not see drastic changes to their midsection.

Which graft is most successful?

The common variation is a whip and tongue graft, which is considered the most difficult to master but has the highest rate of success as it offers the most cambium contact between the scion and the stock. It is the most common graft used in preparing commercial fruit trees.

What happens if a skin graft dies?

This means that the grafted skin dies, and you may need another graft. Scars may form on both your donor area and grafted area. The grafted skin may not look or feel the way you expected it to.

What are the disadvantages of dental flap surgery?

After the surgery, patients might encounter some bleeding and swelling. The chances of developing an infection are also high. The teeth that were treated have a tendency to become more sensitive to hot and cold. The gums in the treated area are more likely to recede with the passage of time.

What are the disadvantages of periodontal flap surgery?

Postoperative complications of surgical therapy can include bleeding, pain, and infection. Long-term negative outcomes may include a loss of periodontal attachment, gingival recession, and tooth sensitivity.