DIEP flap belly shape

Hi jillisuecat: My stomach is shaped funny also.. I think I needed about 10 more lbs of fat taken out of my middle section, but I know they can't do that because of insurances... I think after the fat was taken for the boobs and everything else resettled, it all went to the waist section..

jilllisuecat ~ Not sure I understand your question.  Are you saying there's a really significant difference in the size of your tummy above and below your incision?  If so, I would think your PS could lipo the upper area to remove some of the excess and make the transition smoother.  Have you had your Stage II yet?  Sometimes the lipo'ing is done then, if needed.    Deanna

Hi - I had a TRAM flap. At first my belly was so swollen I could not wear any of my pants or skirts. I am 14 weeks post op and can wear some items. I hear what you say about the low rise pants. I bought some for a March vacation, they actually sit mid waist. My belly is shaped quite oddly, straight up and down. I too could benfit from some lipo reshaping (my insurance will not pay for that part of it, don't know how much it will be but going to do it eventually). My belly, perhaps entire body has been intermittently retaining fluid. It self resolves so for now I'm staying away from diuretics.

Robin

My original surgeon was willing to lipo around dogears at my hips after DIEP, but anything else would have been extra.  I had to head to NOLA after he would not reoperate to correct a complication, and Dr. DellaCroce has done a lot of lipo for me at no extra charge.  The NOLA docs are known for their generous resculpting to give us back our curves, because DIEP pulls everything downward and can give you a boxier shape with no waist.   My pants fit differently, but I was able to switch to another brand which fits much better.

 I can relate to your pants rolling down. I had my Diep in January and my tummy looks a little bloated. Ya I need to lose  some weight which I am having a hard time at. Today I went to my PS for a consultation of my stage 2 of my diep and they told me that they will try to tighten up my tummy but he might insert into my abdomen something like a girdle that stays in my belly and pushes my belly in. He told me that if he does do that I might have to go home with a drain. Not looking forward to that.  That scar that we have from the diep does it ever fade or go away. I still can not believe how long my scar is.

Giselle

WOW I thought I was the only one with this issue.  My upper belly is larger than my lower which makes things fall down easier.  It is very odd.  My PS also would not do any lipo unless I paid out of pocket (which would have been around $6,000. 

My bulge seems to get larger and then smaller depending on a number of things like what I wearing (how constricting the waist is); How long I'm sitting or leaning forward; what kind of meal I've just eaten; If I've laid or slept on my stomach (that makes it flatter). I'll be seeing my PS this Friday for my nips, so I plan to ask him about it then.

It's nice to know I'm not alone, can't keep my pants up either.  It's been almost 8 months and I've grown more than a little tired of hiking up my drawers every other step.   I think my problem is fluid buildup, the area around my belly button jiggles a lot differently than the 'fat parts' jiggle..lol.  I'm going to give the lymphedema massage a try, I hadn't thought of doing it on my belly.   That's what I love about this site, there's always something to be learned here.  There was a really informative and totally funny thread about big pelvic mounds after DIEP's - anyone else have that problem?  I'm not even going to mention the 20# weight gain....

Good luck with your nips on Friday Nancy.  I've been waiting for Stage 2 for 2 months now and don't even have a surgery date yet (sigh).   Hopefully some lypo will flatten out this belly, or at least carve out some semblance of a waistline or I'm going to have to start wearing suspenders....

Nips are done! It was easy-peasy. I almost slept through it. They're covered up until Sunday when I change the dressings for the first time.

My PS and I discussed lipo. It would definitely be an "extra" not covered by the DIEP fee. I don't have a lot to do, just smooth out a small bulge on one side of my tummy scar, and trim some little dog ears. I could almost live with them, and I might just decide to do that.

I have lost some weight since my surgery, and plan to stay on my diet with the goal of losing 25 pounds (I've already lost 5-7). When I reach that goal, I will see how things have shaped up. I might end up with more belly skin to remove.

Hi All,

I am scheduled for Diep Flap August 17th... Do anyone have any before and after photos, that they are willing to share... I would like to see how upper abdominal looks...

I am ten days post op from my bi lateral diep. I have a question about the purpose of the binder. Is it to support the incision or to hold my belly in so it can reshape? How long did y'all wait before scheduling stage two? Also, am i posting in the right spot?

pinksea, the binder is to keep swelling to a minimum.  Stage II is typically at least three months after stage I, as long as you have healed well. 

Ang7, there were huge differences between my first surgeon and Drs. DellaCroce and Sullivan.   You could have stage II in NOLA---insurance does cover it and these doctors are known for the sculpting and shaping they do to give us a great waistline after DIEP.  I have weight still to lose, but have really nice definition to my waist now and no problem keeping my pants up.   Dr. D has done lipo to my upper abdomen a couple of times and it is much better.  However, any weight I gain goes right to that area thanks to menopause.