Latissimus Dorsi Flap

Usually other areas of the body have a greater abundance of fat, but the lateral (outer side) chest may have excess skin and fat that can be used in breast reconstruction. In a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, the latissimus dorsi muscle with the overlying skin and fat are rotated to the front of the chest. For mastectomy breast reconstruction, an implant is commonly used with a latissimus flap.

The skin and fat of the lateral (outer side) chest and back can be rotated to the front of the chest without removing the latissimus dorsi muscle using perforator flap dissection techniques, called a lateral thoracic perforator flap.