Breast and Abdominal Related Morbidity of DIEP and SIEA Flaps

The Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap (DIEP) is the current standard of care in breast reconstruction. The newer Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery flap (SIEA) is felt to be an improvement as it does not damage the abdominal wall. The SIEA unfortunately has smaller vessels which put the flap at a higher risk of developing flap loss and fat necrosis. The uncertainty regarding the tradeoffs inherent in the choice of procedure has not been resolved. As such the investigators aim to perform a randomized single blinded trial to evaluate the abdominal and breast related morbidity associated with DIEP and SIEA flaps.