Essentially, a SHaEP Flap is a version of the DIEP Flap that extends the area of harvested tissue and blood vessels towards the hip for even more healthy material to transfer. This makes it an excellent choice if you were previously considered too thin for a DIEP Flap or if you have large breasts whose size could be impacted by a mastectomy or lumpectomy. It’s a delicate procedure, but one our rigorously trained surgeons are proud to offer.
Stacked Hemi-abdominal Extended Perforator Flap
The SHaEP flap is an advanced microsurgical technique that expands upon traditional DIEP flap reconstruction to access additional tissue extending toward the hip. Through meticulous dissection of an additional blood vessel supplying the lateral abdominal tissue, this approach can allow for transfer of a greater volume of tissue while maintaining a robust blood supply.This technique can be particularly valuable for patients with limited abdominal tissue who may not have sufficient volume for conventional DIEP flap reconstruction. The additional vascular dissection requires a high level of microsurgical precision and expertise. Dr. Stalder’s advanced microsurgical training and experience allow him to offer this specialized technique as an additional option for carefully selected patients seeking personalized, autologous breast reconstruction.