NOLA Hip Flap Experience?

Jenna_Days

I'm going to the Breast Center with Dr Wise as my doctor. I previously had a single mastectomy with a tram flap reconstruction which basically failed due to necrosis and the flap not being flexible enough to extend all the way, leaving me with a dent up top. I'm starting over with a hip flap and am looking for anyone who has gone through this before? I'm 30.

Here are my questions:

(please note just asking about surgery 1, so pre-polish surgery. Not sure I can bring myself to go through with surgery #3 for me after this)

1. How noticeable is the dent on your back side? Does it show if you wear yoga pants?

2. How is the numbness around your hip scar?

3. How long before you could get out of bed without a lot of pain?

4. How long before you could go up and down stairs without a lot of pain?

5. How long before you could go back to work?

Any tips for the healing phase?

thanks!

besa

I had a ns prophylactic unilateral sGAP reconstruction at NOLA ( 4 years after having a DIEP that was done locally in Maryland and had many problems.) The NOLA plan was for me to have a hip flap but my blood vessels ran in a way that required a slightly lower incision -- so more of a sGAP incision. Dr. Dellacroce was my ps.

1) I have a VERY slight flattening at the donor site compared to the other side. It can't be seen in yoga paints or underwear but without clothes I can see it. To me it is not a big deal. I had asked Dr. D to do a light job on the lipo on my contralateral hip because I wanted to preserve that donor site so --possibly if I hadn't made that request the slight flattening wouldn't be noticeable. (My GAP reconstruction was a B/C breast.)

2) I have almost no numbness at the donor sGAP scar- maybe a very small area of numbness right next to part of the scar. (I sure this varies from person to person.) (I do have some numbness in my DIEP donor site.)

3) I was surprised to find that I had almost no pain with this surgery (much easier than my previous DIEP). I remember being in post op and rating the pain as a "2" on a scale of 1 to 10. For me that was as bad as it got. (The nursing is the best I have experienced. They responded to the call button almosts immediately and were checking on me even with I didn't press the call button. )I was sitting in a chair the day of the surgery -I can't remember now but maybe even walking a little. I was definitely up and walking the halls of the hospital the next day.

4) I was walking the stairs when I was released from the hospital and moved back to the hotel. I spend time walking around the French Quarter a few days after I was released from the the hospital. When I returned home we have a two story house and I had no issue with the stairs. Again everyone is different and this was just my experience.

5) I went back to work at 4 weeks -- maybe a few days more than 4 weeks. (I only had hip drains for 4 weeks - most women have drains for a longer period of time. I personally did't want to go back to work with drains so even through I was feeling pretty good at 4 weeks I would have stayed home until the drains were out.) During the 4 weeks when I was home I went to the gym and walked slowly on the treadmill (with drains). I have to say I felt t drains were very annoying and I couldn't wait to get rid of them.

6) Tips on healing. I am not sure I can come up with anything special. Rest if you are tired but if you are feeling up to it - gentle walking. Wear the compression garments. I didn't have much pain but if you are feeling pain stay on top of it with pain meds. Call the Center if there are any issues or questions - they are there for you.

Many women having surgery post on the "NOLA in September" thread. There is also a NOLA facebook group of current and former patients.. PM bdavis if you want to join the facebook group.