What is a "Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle flap" or "TRAM Flap"?

What is a "Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle flap" or "TRAM Flap"?

Steve Fallek (Plastic Surgeon & Medical Director, Face Focus Medical Spa, New York City) gives expert video advice on: How is a breast reconstruction procedure performed?; Is breast reconstruction painful?; Will I have to take time off from work after getting breast reconstruction surgery? and more...

Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle Flap, or TRAM Flap as we tend to call it, is a method of reconstructing the breast after a mastectomy. What it entails is taking abdominal tissue, the skin and fat from the abdominal area and on its pedicle, or blood supply, and bringing that tissue up to reconstruct the breast. What's great about a TRAM Flap is that it takes your own native tissue to help reconstruct the breast.