Postmastectomy breast reconstruction with a trilobe cutaneous pattern.

Many patients undergoing breast reconstruction demonstrate skin deficiency and tightness in both the vertical and horizontal planes on the mastectomy side. Conventional elliptical-type skin designs for the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap fail to provide the bidimensional skin augmentation required. We demonstrate a trilobe cutaneous pattern that allows both horizontal and vertical skin release and has led to an improved aesthetic result. The pattern can be applied in performing either the latissimus dorsi or the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap.