Seeking TRAM surgery stories **after 5, 10 or 20 years**

AJ2021

Hello ladies - I'm 46 years old and I completed chemo, bilateral mastectomy and radiation. I am now ready for my reconstructive surgery.

I have met with doctors and did research online. I discussed the TRAM flap and DIEP. I know the DIEP is the "newer" procedure, however, I am hesitant to through 10 hours of surgery and a much more complicated procedure for essentially the same outcome. For this reason, I am leaning toward getting the TRAM but... my main concern is the long term muscle loss. A mesh will be put in to support my abdomen. My doctors assure me with either surgery, recovery time is the same, cosmetically it's the same and I can do all activities regardless of what surgery I choose.

So.... to help confirm this, I am seeking woman who have had the TRAM Flap surgery about 5, 10 or 20 years ago. Could you kindly share your current physical lifestyle. Do you feel limited in daily physical life or outside activities due to loss of abdomen muscle and having the "mesh"?

Thank you so much!

Jinx27

Im 5 years out from my TRAM. After getting thr details from the breast surgeon I found out a very small amout of muscle was used from my abdomen but bot alot. Most of the harvesting came from visceral fat, tissue and blood vessels in my abdomen.

My physical activity isnt limited one bit! After surgery my healing tome was about a month. I had some drains from the breast and abdomen. The nurses will teach you about to care for yourself once you get home.