DIEP reconstruction, stage 2

wildbreeze

Hi DIEP girls! Has anyone needed to have a breast lift-type proceedure done after a DIEP? I had BL DIEP and one breast is lower, with a bit of a hollow spot on top where the cleavage is supposed to start. This same side had been slightly larger than the other before the mastectomies so there is more skin there as well.

I didn't get a chance to ask yet but I am wondering if my PS will "lift" this side, or use liposuction and fat injections to try to even them out in stage 2. 

Was also wondering if most surgeons use the circles of "flap" skin, the inserted belly skin, to create the nipple or areola in your experience.

Wildbreeze

car

I've just finished w/all of the lifts, nips, and tucks, and I think that it depends on what your PS sees as achieving the outcome you both desire. My PS created the nipple out of the belly skin a couple of days after the initial procedure. At the time, he also performed what he called a "pursestring" procedure to lift my "healthy" side to match. It was dicey at that time as he was removing encapsulated silicone implants (my "healthy" side had been augmented, unfortunately), so it was difficult to ascertain what my "normal" breasts looked like. From there, it was clear that I needed another lift and I was a cup larger on the side w/the flap. We talked about it, and his solution was to remove some tissue from the flap side and give me another lift. I'm delighted with the results. He had asked if I wanted augmentation to match the flap side (which looked very nice), but I definitely did not want any more implants. So, that was how my PS handled it. I've got a hematoma on the flap side (that's just me--I bruise/bleed easily due to asthma med side effects) but I'm delighted w/the results and can't wait to get my new 32B bra--he predicts in a week or so.

Good luck--my bet is that it'll work out if your PS listens and you really discuss what you want.

SandyinSoCal

Hi Wildbreeze,

I had reshaping and lifting during stage II.  My right breast seems to want to be lower than the left and has been "shored up" 2-3 times now, most recently about 3 weeks ago.  I have also had fat injections in the upper poles of both breasts.  My first plastic surgeon was going to use the circle of abdominal skin to create the nipple/areola, but when I found a new surgeon they were created from breast skin instead because he eliminated the "circles".

BethNY

here's some stage 2 info:

http://www.breastreconstruction.org/SecondaryProcedures/SurgeryontheOppositeBreast.html

http://www.breastreconstruction.org/SecondaryProcedures/FlapRevision.html

wildbreeze

Wow - looks like they can do a lot more than I anticipated. I have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks - I am hoping that my PS decides to do the revisions and lets them settle in well before the nipple surgery - wouldn't want any unexpected wandering nipples....