Episode 30: Classical Art & Drawing Concepts in Breast Reconstruction

We are speaking about the art and practice of microsurgery as it relates to breast reconstruction surgery in this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. Microsurgery is a specialty of plastic surgery requiring training beyond plastic surgery residency. Microsurgery involves moving tissue and blood vessels from one part of the body to another to repair or replace tissue that has been affected by disease or trauma. Carefully dissecting blood vessels from a donor site, microsurgeons then place the tissue from the donor site to the new site and tie blood vessels together at the new site under high powered microscopes.

One form of breast reconstruction is the DIEP flap. The donor site is the tummy tissue. This abdominal tissue is disconnected, and the new recipient site is the breast area that has been affected by breast cancer. My guest is a microsurgeon who frequently and successfully performs this type of breast reconstruction surgery.

Dr. Sumeet Teotia is a Professor of Plastic Surgery and Director of the Breast Reconstruction Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He has a keen interest in classical drawing. The parallel between classical art, drawing and breast reconstruction is our topic of conversation today.

You can view some of his drawings on his Instagram account at drsumeetteotia