Robotic Breast Reconstruction Without Implants: A First by the French Breast Institute
World first at the French Breast Institute: robot-assisted breast reconstruction without implants, with reduced scarring and rapid recovery.
A pioneering robotic surgery performed by the French Breast Institute
On November 27, 2017, a team from the French Breast Institute (Institut Français du Sein, IFS) at the Clinique Alma in Paris successfully performed the first robotic breast reconstruction without implants using a DIEP flap.
This groundbreaking procedure was led by Dr. Marc-David Benjoar, plastic surgeon in charge of breast reconstruction at IFS, assisted by Dr. Francis Dubosq, a urological surgeon specializing in robotic surgery, and Dr. Yaël Berdah, plastic surgeon. The seven-hour operation was a complete success.
What is a DIEP flap?
The DIEP flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap) involves harvesting skin and fat from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast without the use of a silicone implant.
To ensure vascularization of the transplanted tissue, the surgeon must also remove a deep artery and vein from the pelvic region, which are then microscopically reconnected to vessels in the chest.
The benefits of robotic assistance
Traditionally, this highly delicate phase requires a 15 cm incision in the abdominal wall, which can lead to significant postoperative pain and abdominal wall curvature.
Thanks to the Da Vinci robotic surgical system, this part of the operation was performed with unprecedented precision, reducing the abdominal incision to only four centimeters.
Exceptional recovery and future outlook
The entire surgical team was impressed by the patient’s rapid recovery:
- Minimal postoperative pain
- Mobilized the next day
- Discharged just 5 days after surgery
This first case marks a major technological and medical advancement in breast reconstruction, combining the latest robotic innovation with microsurgical expertise.
Toward broader accessibility
We hope to be able to offer this cutting-edge, less invasive solution to a larger number of patients in the future—particularly those seeking breast reconstruction without implants, with reduced scarring and recovery time.
For more information on robotic breast reconstruction, or to explore your options, please do not hesitate to contact us.
À propos de l'auteur
Dr. Yaël Berdah
Chirurgienne esthétique et plastique à Paris, spécialisée en lifting cervico-facial, chirurgie des paupières, chirurgie intime et liposuccion HD
4,8 / 5
Calculée sur + 400 avis patients, note globale du cabinet Plasticiens Paris
★★★★★
4,8 · +400 avis
Presse médicale
Formation & diplômes
- Docteur en Médecine
- DESC de Chirurgie Plastique, Reconstructrice et Esthétique (seul diplôme autorisant l'exercice depuis 1986)
- Université Paris VII-Paris Cité
- Ancienne interne et assistante de Chirurgie Plastique des Hôpitaux de Paris, formée à l'Hôpital Saint Louis auprès du Pr Jean-Marie Servant
- Collège Français de Chirurgie Plastique
- DU Microchirurgie · DU Anatomie appliquée à la Chirurgie Plastique · DU Anatomie Cervico-Faciale · DIU Chirurgie de la Main
- Inscrite à l'Ordre des médecins de Paris n° 75/76730 (RPPS 10004624499)
Engagement hospitalier et institutionnel
Membre de l'équipe de chirurgiens plasticiens de l'Institut Français du Sein depuis 2015 · Formée à la reconstruction mammaire à l'Hôpital Saint Louis · 2 ans au Centre Hospitalier André Grégoire (service de chirurgie esthétique) · Associée depuis 2010 au sein du cabinet Plasticiens Paris
Spécialités
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