Buttock Flap
Advantages:
Can recruit some of the upper (S-GAP) or lower (I-GAP) buttock tissue and were initially popular as an alternative to the DIEP flap.
Disadvantages:
‘In the crease’ scar of the I-GAP flaps means that the patient sits on the scar which can delay wound healing and be painful in the long term. Buttock tissue tends to be much more firm than abdominal or thigh tissue.
Recovery:
4 – 6 hours of surgery
4 – 6 days in hospital
At least 6 week recovery to normal functioning