TRAM flap
(… flap)
A type of surgery used to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy. A muscle in the lower abdomen called the rectus abdominis, along with skin, fat, and blood vessels, is moved from the lower abdomen to the chest. This is usually done by passing the muscle tissue and blood vessels through a tunnel under the skin to the chest. A TRAM flap forms a natural-looking breast, so the patient usually does not need a breast implant. It is a type of breast reconstruction. Also called transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.