Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Cosmetic Surgery (Expert Forum)
Tram Flap Reconstruction Unhappy
Answered by
Howard Rosenberg, MD - Cosmetic Surgery
Accent on Aesthetics Plastic Surgery Medical Center
Questions in the Cosmetic Surgery forum are answered by Dr. Howard Rosenberg. Topics include bariatric surgery reconstruction, breast augmentation, chemical peels, cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, face lift, nose reconstruction, and tummy tucks.
Tram Flap Reconstruction Unhappy
by SweetHoneyJJ, Jan 24, 2008 08:04PM
Tram Flap Reconstruction Unhappy
I have had my Tram Flap reconstruction done in late 2005. My abdomen has gotten hard and I am bloated. In the beginning my stomach was flat but after one year it started to get harder and it looks swollen. I am uncomfortable after eating. I feel as if I have on a griddle even when I'm completely without clothes on. I never had a mid-drift and I have one now. Can something be done to help this? Is there some type of corrective surgery to help me with these problems? I understand that everyone heals different and there is scar tissue involved. I've waited two and a half years and now I'm ready to revisit this problem. Is there some kind of help for me? I am truly miserable with this feeling.
SweetHoneyJJ
I have had my Tram Flap reconstruction done in late 2005. My abdomen has gotten hard and I am bloated. In the beginning my stomach was flat but after one year it started to get harder and it looks swollen. I am uncomfortable after eating. I feel as if I have on a griddle even when I'm completely without clothes on. I never had a mid-drift and I have one now. Can something be done to help this? Is there some type of corrective surgery to help me with these problems? I understand that everyone heals different and there is scar tissue involved. I've waited two and a half years and now I'm ready to revisit this problem. Is there some kind of help for me? I am truly miserable with this feeling.
SweetHoneyJJ
Doctor's Answer
by Howard Rosenberg, MD, Jan 25, 2008 01:01PM
, Jan 25, 2008 01:01PM
It is possible to perform additional work on your abdominal wall, depending on its condition, the type of TRAM flap surgery done, and how the abdominal wall reconstruction was achieved. For example: was this a free flap or pedicled rectus muscle flap, how much of the muscle was used in the pedicle blood supply, was the abdominal wall defect repaired with just sutures or was a mesh used to reinforce the abdominal wall, how much abdominal wall weakness do you actually have?
Your surgeon would be in the best position to understand these issues and advise you what, if anything, can be done to improve your situation. Without an examination and knowledge of your situation, it is impossible for me to be specific about what course of action can and should be done.
Your surgeon would be in the best position to understand these issues and advise you what, if anything, can be done to improve your situation. Without an examination and knowledge of your situation, it is impossible for me to be specific about what course of action can and should be done.
Member Comments (2)
by SweetHoneyJJ, Jan 29, 2008 06:33PM
To: Howard Rosenberg, MD
Thank you so much for you response and advice. I really don't want to see the same surgeon again. I was not completely happy with her performance. First surgery on 7/13/04. She did not get the line right on the breast plus too much fat was left in it and there was also "dog ears". I discussed this with her and she said to come back within one year and she would correct the problem. On 4/22/05 She was able to remove the dog ears and the excess fat in the breast but she did not correct the line. Unfortunately, I had personal problems in my life and was not able to concentrate on this issue. I am going to visit with a different surgeon with whom I had a consultation with back in 2005.
