The aim of this research was to investigate the blood supply to the lower abdomen. This is a commonly used donor site for autologous reconstruction following breast cancer and the flap of tissue used is based on the deep inferior epigastric circulation (DIEP flap) or the superficial inferior epigastric circulation (SIEA flap). A pilot study investigated the feasibility of assessing the vascular territory of multiple blood vessels in the lower abdomen, and also observed the timing of changes in skin blood supply after free flap transfer. Further studies included sampling using microdialysis catheters, from different areas of the flap, around the theoretical time of opening of choke vessels between angiosomes. Manipulation of skin blood flow was initially investigated using capillary malformations as a model, observing current clinical use of EMLA and AMETOP topical anaesthetic pre-laser treatment.