Reconstruction - pedicled vs DIEP

LindyB1

Hello everyone. I have recently been diagnosed with DCIS and will be undergoing a mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy. I have opted for immediate reconstruction and I am doing my research to decide whether to undergo a pedicled flap or the DIEP. Does one have a greater success rate and less post-op complications than the other? I am fairly active e.g. golf, aquafit so I want to make sure that I still have the abdominal muscle strength to do these things once healing is complete. Thanks in advance for any guidance. Linda

ladyboss1997

I had DIEP done on 3/1/16. I am very pleased with the results. I am also very active. I jog and lift weights. I was unable to do any type of ab exercises or weight lifting for 12 weeks but started jogging again after 4 weeks. I also went back to work after 4 weeks.

FYI - I am 5 years out from my initial diagnosis, and this was totally prophylactic.

Ridley

Linda --I didn't think pedicled tram flaps were done anymore. That surgery definitely impacts your ab muscles. Diep doesn't take any muscle. A free tram is similar to a diep and takes a tiny piece of muscle. I ended up with one diep and one free tram as my veins were tiny. No noticeable impact to my core.

Please research carefully and find a surgeon with as much experience as possible with diep.