DIEP FLAP

HopeBry

I finished chemo April of 2019. I just got my TEs exchanged for implants March 2020. I had got a cellulitis infection in my roght breast when one of my TEs had a leak. It took a new year to get my exchange since the infection had to be treated. So for a while I had only 1 boob. This year I had the fat transfer from my flanks and back but the surgeon left the fat in tummy. He wants me to think about the Diep surgery so he can take tissue from there. My left breast looks great with the implant. The right is thin skinned and sits lower than the left and is more relaxed. I can see rippling also. I had nipple sparring in the past and my areolas are pretty large. So when one is sitting much lower it looks off. I dont think I want the DIEP flap at all. I want to avoid anything too invasive. I am 43 years old and I just want to move on with my life. I am hoping he can replace the implant on the right because it feels less solid than my other one and they told me the same size implant was placed for both. Idk even know if one was under the muscle and the right was put over thats why there is a ripple. I have a follow up with him in 2 weeks. I hope there are options other than DIEP and that 1 breast can look more full.

Sharon1942

Dr. Teotia did my DIEP flap in 2012 & did a beautiful job! He’s an artist

alissat

Sharon1942, Dr Teotia is also my surgeon. He’s doing my DIEP flapin August. Nice to hear from someone else that he did a great job!

abigailj

Hi All - I had nipple sparing BMX with immediate DIEP recon this past Tuesday and came home last night. I am 62, in decent but not very fit shape, 5’ 3”, 160 pound (includes 10 extra Covid pounds) and had 36D size breasts. , I stopped the narcotic drugs 24 hours ago and managing pain with acetaminophen aka paracetamol to my European friends. I can get around fine but using a walker since I was told not to stand up straight and as it pulls at belly stitches so back pain if I don’t use walker. My recon breasts look like my breasts already, just really bruised and with that extra lump of flap skin which will get removed in 2 weeks so I am thrilled I may wind up C instead of D cup but can have fat grafting if I want to bother to get back to that size in 3 months

My advice If you choose this - only use surgeons who specialize in breast microsurgery; stay in hospital 5 or 6 days - pretty sure US insurers are required to let you due to the 1997 breast cancer rights law and 5 to 6 days is standard protocol in UK, Canada and Australia by the way: Unless your spouse/partner is in nursing and/or does most of the shopping/cooking/cleaning, talk to hospital social worker to see what your insurance may cover in terms of visiting nurse andhome health aide - I was pleasantly surprised to learn mine has these benefits plus a physical therapist will come to the house as well; any nicotine use really elevated the risk your own breast skin will not survive- I quit cold turkey the minute I was diagnosed so I could do this with good odds - was clean of it for 4 month, tough but worth it, if you have to do it think of being able to keep you real breast skin envelop - that squashed my nicotine cravings for sure!

I hope all going through a BMX are as fortunate as I have been (just heard today they got it all, clean sentinel lymph nodes and nipple cells!). Blessings to you all.