New breast reconstruction technique celebrated as a major advancement

Tanya Tanna, a 56-year-old from South Ruislip in west London, is celebrating a significant milestone. She has become the first patient in the UK to undergo a new kind of breast reconstruction surgery and says she now feels “whole again.”

This innovative keyhole procedure was developed by a team of surgeons in London, particularly after Tanya’s mastectomy due to cancer. The operation is designed to be less invasive, which helps patients recover more quickly and lowers the risk of complications like hernias.

Surgeons referred to this technique as a “massive breakthrough in cancer surgery.”

Tanya shared her experience, saying, “I expected a lot of pain after the eight-hour surgery, but I felt none. The next day, I was already up walking around, and the nurses looked at me as if I was a miracle!”

Mr. Dariush Nikkhah, a consultant plastic surgeon at Royal Free Hospital, and Mr. Alistair Slesser, a colorectal surgeon at Hillingdon Hospital, introduced this advanced technique which adapts a breast reconstruction surgery method that is already in use in select locations globally.

In the typical DIEP flap surgery, part of the abdomen is used to create a new breast. This traditionally involves a lengthy incision of about 10-12 cm, but the modified version requires only a 2-3 cm cut.

Mr. Nikkhah shared that, “The Royal Free Hospital stands as one of the few places in the world offering this surgery.” He noted that while it’s more complex, it enhances recovery time—where patients typically face a hospital stay of four to seven days, this new approach reduces it to just one or two days.

Mr. Slesser expressed that, “This is a massive breakthrough in cancer surgery.” He noted the team is continuously refining the technique and looking into utilizing robotic systems for future surgeries.

With this approach, surgeons would control instruments remotely, enhancing precision during operations. Tanya’s journey began with her mastectomy in 2020 due to breast cancer, but the pandemic resulted in delays in her reconstruction.

It was Mr. Nikkhah who recommended this pioneering method to her. “When I found out I would be the first in the UK for this procedure, honestly, I was nervous but also thrilled to take part,” Tanya recalled.

Her family had mixed feelings, joking that she must be “crazy!” but Tanya felt it was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse.

Reflecting on the surgery, she said, “The team promised to make me whole again, and they certainly did. Now, I can look at myself and think, ‘Yes, I am whole again!'”