- R Deraemaecker: Service de Chirurgie plastique, Institut J. Bordet, Bruxelles.
In our country reconstructive breast surgery developed approximatively 20 years ago. In the early 70s breast reconstruction was only performed by simple implantation of a prosthesis. Other surgical techniques were quickly introduced, such as the transfer of the musculocutaneous flap of the latissimus dorsi and the autogenous reconstruction with the rectus abdominis musculocutaneous island flap, better known as TRAM. Since the beginning, breast reconstruction was recommended after a minimal delay of one year. More recently reconstruction was proposed to start earlier and immediate breast reconstruction became indicated in certain specific instances.