Elective reconstruction the second time around

Trp0754

I had a double mastectomy over 4 years ago and constantly feel tight. My daughter had a prophylactic double mastectomy last week and her ps said that he would be able to redo my reconstruction so I don’t have that uncomfortable feeling. He also said that he could use my own tissue. Is this too good to be true? Has anyone ever done this? I will be seeing him this week at my daughter’s follow up appointment and am most anxious to hear what he has to say

Lula73

No it’s not too good to be true! He is talking about a DIEP flap or SGAP flap more than likely. Since he didn’t specify in advance, it could be an LD flap he’s talking about though. The big thing you want to make sure If is that he is talking about doing a muscle sparing recon meaning no muscle is used as part of the recon. DIEP and SGAP both are muscle sparing, LD is not. I had DIEP and I’m in a support group with many women whose original recon sounds like yours with the tight feeling and they do get relief with the muscle sparing natural tissue recon. Do you mind if I ask which Center you’re looking at having it done?

Trp0754

I’m having it done at Johns Hopkins. The original implant is under the chest wall and he will do it over. How long was your recovery? Any drains?

Lula73

if he is still using the implants, it's likely LD flap. If so, I would urge you to cruise by the latissimus Dorsi thread and read about it. That procedure takes the back muscles and pulls them around to the front to create a pocket for the implants to sit in. Before going that route, be sure you 100% understand the impact of losing those back muscles especially as we get older.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/751135?page=209#post_5227957

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/763878?page=2#post_5230234