Achieve natural breast reconstruction with the SIEA flap, a technique that uses skin and fat from your lower abdomen while leaving your muscles intact. At Advanced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Dr. Daron Geldwert and Dr. Darren S. Leong leverage 35+ years of combined expertise to create individualized, natural results that harmonize with your anatomy.
Rebuild Naturally While
Preserving Core Strength
The SIEA (superficial inferior epigastric artery) flap is a type of breast reconstruction that uses skin and fat from the lower abdomen to create a soft, natural-looking breast. Unlike other flap techniques, it does not involve cutting into the abdominal muscle or fascia, which helps preserve core strength. Instead, superficial blood vessels are carefully reconnected using microsurgery, ensuring healthy circulation to the transferred tissue while also providing a slimming, tummy tuck-like effect. This makes the SIEA flap both reconstructive and cosmetically beneficial.
What Are the Benefits of the SIEA Flap?
- Provides a natural look and feel using your own tissue
- Avoids cutting into abdominal muscles or fascia, preserving core strength
- Offers a shorter recovery compared to DIEP or TRAM flaps
- Reduces the risk of abdominal weakness or hernia
- Creates a flatter, slimmer abdomen similar to a tummy tuck
- Eliminates the need for breast implants or future implant exchanges
Am I a Suitable Candidate for the SIEA Flap?
If you are considering breast reconstruction, the SIEA flap may be an excellent option, but not everyone is an ideal candidate. This technique requires specific vessels in the lower abdomen, which are not naturally present in all patients. During consultation, Dr. Geldwert and Dr. Leong will carefully evaluate your anatomy, medical history, and health. Using advanced imaging, they will determine whether the SIEA flap is a safe and effective choice for your reconstruction.
You may be a candidate for the SIEA flap if:
- You have adequate lower abdominal fat to transfer for breast reconstruction
- You have healthy superficial inferior epigastric vessels that can support the flap
- You have not had prior abdominal surgeries that damaged or removed these vessels
- You are in overall good health and able to undergo microsurgery
- You wish to avoid the use of implants and prefer natural tissue reconstruction
- You are committed to following post-operative care instructions
What Happens During the SIEA Flap Procedure?
During the SIEA flap reconstruction, Dr. Geldwert and/or Dr. Leong begin by identifying and isolating the superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein that run just under your skin in the lower abdomen. They then carefully remove a section of skin, fat, and connective tissue from this area, while leaving your abdominal muscles, fascia, and nerves completely untouched. This spares your core strength and reduces the risk of long-term complications.
Once the tissue is prepared, it is transferred to your chest. Using high-powered microscopes, the surgeons reconnect the artery and vein from the flap to the blood vessels in your chest wall, ensuring the tissue receives a steady blood supply. The new breast mound is then carefully shaped to match your natural contour, and fat grafting may be added for extra softness and symmetry. This also results in a flatter, more toned abdomen.
What Is the Recovery Process Like After the SIEA Flap?
After your SIEA flap procedure, you can expect some swelling, bruising, and soreness in your chest and abdomen. Most patients stay in the hospital for three days, with gentle movement encouraged within 24 hours to promote circulation. While initial improvements in breast shape are visible immediately, your results will continue to refine over several weeks. Most patients resume light activities in about three weeks, while full recovery may take six weeks or longer.
To support a smooth recovery and protect your results, you will need to:
- Wear a compression garment around your abdomen for up to 6 weeks
- Empty and care for surgical drains until removed, usually within 1 to 2 weeks
- Limit lifting, bending, or strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks
- Walk daily, starting the day after surgery, to aid healing and reduce blood clot risk
- Attend all follow-up appointments for monitoring and stitch or drain removal
- Avoid smoking or nicotine products during the entire recovery period
Why Choose Advanced Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery Center?
Advanced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center is a premier destination for advanced breast reconstruction. Led by Dr. Daron Geldwert and Dr. Darren S. Leong, both board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons, our practice boasts 35+ years of combined experience. Our surgeons’ extensive background in breast reconstruction, with over 10,000 procedures performed, ensures safe, natural-looking outcomes tailored to your unique needs.
For complex cases, such as SIEA flap reconstruction, Dr. Geldwert and Dr. Leong often collaborate as co-surgeons, combining their skills and instincts to deliver precise, customized results. Their commitment to advanced technology, meticulous technique, and individualized care makes them trusted by patients and even other physicians seeking reconstruction. If you are considering SIEA flap reconstruction, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at our Rancho Cucamonga or Murrieta locations to explore your options.
