PAP Flap Reconstruction in Austin, TX

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Overview

A natural look and feel to a reconstructed breast can be achieved through a profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap reconstruction at Snyder Plastic Surgery at the Breast and Body Center. Our board-certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Ned Snyder IV implements a cutting-edge surgical technique, which spares the muscle in your thigh and leaves a scar just beneath the buttocks in a natural crease on the back of your thigh. A PAP flap is a breast reconstruction technique uses the blood vessel that runs through the thigh.

When you do not have enough tissue on your belly, Dr. Snyder may recommend the next best choice, a PAP flap. This reconstruction is best suited for women who are not a candidate for the harvesting of their abdominal tissue either because of previous surgeries or because they do not have the volume of abdomen tissue to make a breast. This can all be discussed in a private consultation in our Round Rock, or Austin, TX office. Snyder Plastic Surgery at The Breast and Body Center wants to help you through this transformative surgery. Call and schedule consultation.

Surgical Technique

A PAP flap is a type of breast reconstruction that uses only your own tissue and is performed at an inpatient facility under general anesthesia. The breast is reconstructed  by Dr. Snyder using skin, fat, and blood vessels from the back of your upper thigh. This technique spares the muscle in your thigh and leaves a scar just beneath the buttocks in the natural crease on the back of your thigh. The first part of the construction is the harvesting of the tissue via liposuction on the thigh, which is the same technique we use in a thigh lift. Then, the breast can be reconstructed with the tissue relocated layer-by-layer to the breast mound. Blood vessels are also reconnected at the new breast site. A PAP flap usually creates a breast the same volume or larger than the breast that was removed in a mastectomy.

I had an amazing experience with beautiful results - I couldn’t be happier with my breast augmentation results. Everyone that I met from my first consultation to my post follow up after surgery were extremely helpful and informative. Dr. Snyder himself is an amazing surgeon. My results are perfect and better than I ever could have imagined. I highly recommend him if you are thinking about this procedure. His PA, Jen was extremely helpful and informative as well. The facilities from Dr. Snyder’s office to the surgical site used were clean, beautiful and comfortable. I felt well taken care the entire time and am thrilled with my results.

Anonymous Vitals

After back to back pregnancies, my body had been put through the ringer in a short period of time. I had an umbilical hernia and diastasis recti. Dr. Snyder restored my body and sanity after a mini tummy tuck and a much needed breast lift. I never imagined the results I got. They were better than I expected and my husband was very impressed as well. Dr. Snyder is a true artist! I have told all my Mommy friends to get their "Body by Snyder." Thank you Dr. Snyder for making me feel and look like myself again!

A.D. Google

Highly Recommended - I recently had Eurothreads, non-surgical face lift, with Dr. Ned Snyder and Jen. During the treatment, I was very confident in Dr. Snyder’s expertise and gentleness. Jen was there to assist during treatment and helped explain the procedure to me. I am very pleased with my results. I can not say enough about Dr. Snyder, Jen and his wonderful team. I highly recommend him for non surgical and surgical procedures.

J. RealSelf

I chose Dr. Snyder for my tummy tuck and liposuction. He came highly referred by a friend as well as online reviews. I’m truly thankful that I chose Dr. Snyder and his staff as they cared for me as if I were a loved one. I felt safe, educated, respected, and cared for in a real genuine and honest way.I had first consulted with Sono Bello and fear what my results would have been if I would have chosen that route. I am 5 weeks post surgery, couldn't be happier with my results, my follow ups, and the support from his staff to answer and and all questions along the way. I highly recommend seeing Dr. Snyder and getting to know his care team during your consultation. I've been waiting to do this for a decade and wouldn't change a thing.Thanks team!!!

M.J. Google

I met Dr. Ned Snyder as I was looking for a second opinion for a revision of breast reconstruction and a neck lift. And I am so happy I did. The interaction between physician and patient started wonderfully since the very beginning. I was able to get an appointment with him soon after my telephone call to his office, and continued smoothly throughout the whole process, prior to surgery, during surgery itself, and on all my post-surgery appointments. Dr. Ned Snyder is not onl...y a fantastic surgeon but also an artist. What he did with my body I consider it a piece of art! The results were well beyond my expectations. Dr. Snyder and all his staff are professional, warm, and courteous. In addition, the cost estimate I received from Dr. Snyder’s office after my consultation with him was about half of previous estimates with other plastic surgeons. I am forever grateful to Dr. Ned Snyder.

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During/After Surgery

After your surgery, you will be observed very closely by our experienced post-operative nurses and medical staff. Be prepared for an inpatient stay for several days to monitor your progress. Since a PAP flap breast reconstruction is technically two surgeries combined, we will address both your thigh and breast surgical sites, pain management, hygiene, and incision drains. Once you are discharged, you will need to have help for a few weeks while you recover. You may not be able to move as easily as before your surgery until your body is ready (usually 1 – 6 weeks). Dr. Snyder will want to see you 7 days after discharge for a follow-up appointment to see your progress, help manage your pain, and to make recommendations on how you can recover quickly and with less stress. You will not be able to do strenuous activities (working out, housework, or physical jobs) for many weeks and should not resume them until released from your doctor.

It is very important to look for signs of infection or fever within your incision sites. Please give our practice a call if you have excessive bleeding, fever, or any unusual side effects from the medication after the surgical procedure in your breast or thigh.

About Us
How Many Scars?

A PAP flap breast reconstruction will require surgical scars on the breast(s) and at the natural crease of the buttocks and the thigh. Dr. Snyder will perform your surgery with the goal of making your scars as seamless and inconspicuous as possible. Unfortunately, you will have surgical scars, but with time, they should become less prominent.

How Long Is the Surgery?

Your breast construction surgery with the PAP flap surgical technique may take 4 – 6 hours under a general anesthetic. Keep in mind that the more fat that has to be collected from various donor sites on the body, the longer the surgery. 

Am I a Candidate?

If you are a candidate for the PAP flap instead of a DIEP flap, this usually means there was not enough tissue in your abdominal area from a lack of fatty tissue or because you have had a tummy tuck in the past. Dr. Snyder may take into consideration other abdominal surgeries you may have had performed (liposuction, C-Section, appendectomy, hysterectomy, bowel surgery, and others). Most patients in this situation who have had a tummy tuck, are usually more appropriate for a PAP flap reconstruction.

*Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Images may contain models.