Referred PS doesn't offer DIEP

lemonee

I'm getting ready to start chemo and will also need radiation. I know this will affect what kind of reconstruction I choose. As far as I can tell, the PS that my surgeon has referred me to doesn't offer DIEP, and that is what I really want to have. I haven't actually consulted with the PS yet, but the surgeon says I need to schedule the initial consultation within the next few weeks so that I can get on the schedule when it's time for surgery. I found other providers that are a few hours away from me who do the procedure, but I don't know how to go about that. I'm assuming that I would have to have delayed reconstruction if I went that route.

Georgia1

Hi Lemonee. If your insurance covers it you might want to talk to the New Orleans Center for Breast Reconstruction. They do consults by phone and Skype, and my friend was super happy with them after being in the same situation as you. Her insurance covered everything except the travel and the hotel room she needed for a couple of days (she stayed in their surgical hospital for three nights but wanted more recuperation before returning home.)

Wishing you the best of luck.

Runrcrb

I spoke to two plastic surgeons between diagnosis and scheduling my mastectomy. The first PS did not do DIEP and while I wasn't sure which path I wanted to take, I did want to explore both implants and flap reconstruction. I did delayed reconstruction; a tissue expander was placed at the time of the mastectomy and stayed there for the next 15 months.

If you are leaning toward DIEP flap, schedule a consult with a PS who does those. In my experience, the plastic surgeon who does flap reconstructions also does implants but not all do both. Ask your breast surgeon for more recommendations, call your insurance company and ask, ask your primary care doctor and your oncologist - radiation or medical. Then pick up the phone and call the office and schedule a consult. Do not be afraid to talk to more than one.

Good luck

Meow13

lemonee, my DIEP was 4 months after my mx, for me it was an agonising wait. But my surgeon did 1 DIEP a week on wednesdays. I am so happy with the results. They wanted me to be done with any chemo and radiation first. I didn't need either but the availability was a months long wait list. That was in Seattle 2012.

lemonee

Thank you so much for all the tips!