DIEP 2013

I have found Cocoa Butter (the real stuff, not palmers) to do wonders on my belly scar. It is smoothing out and starting to look ok. I also read that you can dab lemon juice on the scar after you are totally healed to lighten it. I'm sticking with the cocoa butter. I wore a compression garment on my lower half for a few weeks. That really helped bring the swelling down.

Winter... All PS are different... Some might use a TE, but there is no need to expand the pec muscle for DIEP, so I wouldn't want that. Another might slip an implant in as a place holder. And another would just do the DIEP and overstuff that side to accomodate for shrinkage due to radiation. And yet another would not preserve the skin and use your abdominal skin at time of DIEP.

Hi, all! Today is 2 weeks out from surgery for me and I can't complain. I still hunch over and my back tires easily, but the more I move around the better that seems to get. It's easy to overdo too, though. Frequent but short, gentle get-ups & walks seem to be the ticket.



In some ways I swear I have more aches than earlier, but that might be b/c I'm pretty much off pain meds. And I think I may have overdone some (light) work around the house in the last two days. It's tough to find the right balance! I think I at least need to be taking regular strength Tylenol; took some a bit ago and feel better. Maybe that will help with sleep, too; I've been waking up a lot from the aches and have trouble finding a comfortable position. Still can't sleep on my side, my preferred position, so the back sleeping is getting old (and achy).



My mother-in-law left today so we'll be on our own for cooking, laundry etc. I was really spoiled. Boys, get ready for orders!

Pinkheart, I don't mind at all. I knew going into my BMX/DIEP procedure that my vascular system was "small" ; as in small veins and arteries. My two surgeries were to run 9-10 hours. They completed the procedure on time, but my right breast developed "venous congestion" where the vascular system was slowing down the blood flow....and the surgeons lost Doppler on the breast. My surgeon did exactly what I would have done, had I been in his shoes- he re-opened my abdomen , "fished" around for a more suitable vein, and redid the whole right breast transplant, and voila! Right boob saved!

:-). So glad he did, as I am very happy with the preliminary results.... :-)



Namaste, and God Bless......Jackie

i have a question......what made you decide to do the DIEP?  you did the research and saw the healing time, the surgery time....the extent of the surgery itself and you read from everyone else what recovery would be like.   i really want the DIEP but i'm sooooo freaked out over what it entails.   what made y'all decide this was the surgery for you and worth every bit of what you have gone thru?

again, i'm freaked, but i really want this surgery.  i don't want to have to do it every again and i don't want to put anything foreign in my body.  i also don't want to jeopardize my muscles.  i'm 48 with a 7 yr old boy who loves the outdoors and sports.....i need to be able to keep up with him.   

what made you decide this surgery over the other ones?

thank you in advance for your thoughts.

much love!

Ally

Ally, if you are doing a DIEP or GAP flaps you are not jeopardizing your muscles.  I doubt any of us rushed into this surgery, but I know a lot of women are rushed into implants as that is all their PS knows.  I spent about 7 years just exploring DIEP.  When my implants were originally placed many, many years ago the reconstructive procedures of today were just a glimmer in the eyes of some very progressive surgeons.  A type of lat flap was available at major medical centers, but my PS readily said it would create significant muscle problems.  So I watched and waited with my implants in place.  And then came these highly specialized flap procedures.  I knew a few women who had them about 6 years ago.  Some went well and others had significant problems.  The significant problems were complicated by unresponsive medical professionals (they could have been a lot less significant had the MDs communicated better).  So I spent lots of time looking at surgeons who preformed the procedure.  I knew that I didn't want to replace my 2nd set of implants with a 3rd set.  I wanted my own.  My DH & I attended a presentation given by Dr. Marga Massey.  Half way through, my DH leaned over and said "she's the one".  And she is.  I am a work in progress and am anxiously awaiting Stage 2 to see how this progresses.

Please don't dwell on the things that make you nervous.  You won't be able to make the best decision on a PS.  You won't be able to make any good decisions as you will be worrying endlessly.  If you would rather have your own tissue, this is the way to go.

Yes, you will be down for a time (not that long) and you will be able to keep up with your son.  Recovery is faster than you think, but don't rush it.  Your body will let you know in a variety of ways that you are not giving it what it needs.  Just breath - the decision will come.

Diep seemed the best option for me too. I thought I would rather have my own fat used and not some implant. I had the extra tummy to get rid of. With other procedures , mostly implant there may be a shorter surgery and recovery but you are going back about 3 times to complete the look. Diep is a long surgery, and a longer recovery 6 to 8 weeks . My work involves lifting and arm lifting so I will probably need the max time off. You go back just to do nipples, which is can be a simple in and out procedure. When you are under anestic whether its for 3 hours or 10 hours the risks can be the same. Muscle is not used for diep. Do the research , talk to your PS about your concerns. Go with your gut feeling and don't look back , don't think too much. I just got out of hospital on sunday and am hobbling around , sore tummy , swollen and sore breasts but nothing unbearable. Hardly any painkillers now. You will defn. throw that ball with your son again.

I am curious Cherie what is stage 2? I was told that once I heal fully ,in a few months, that the only thing left was nipple work . Tattooing  is the easiest and fastest method. 

Stage 1 is to place the tissue and get a good blood supply. Stage 2 is where aesthetics are incorporated.  Breasts may be lifted.  They are sculpted to properly shape.  Scars are revised.  Fat is grafted in areas where needed.  Dog ears are removed.

For example, during Stage 1, I had my implants removed, the scar tissue was chipped out, the tissue and blood vessels harvested and attached in the appropriate location.  During Stage 2, my left side will be lifted and moved with fat grafting to fill hollows.  My right side will be cleaned out as there are the remains of a hematoma that required a second surgery 2 days after stage 1 so we could save the flap.  At some point the dog ears at the abdominal incisions will be repaired and the dog ears left over from the initial mastectomies will be corrected.  Later we will go for nipples and other adjustments as needed.

In a few months, you may notice divots and need fat grafting.  You may find that the breasts don't match and the symmetry is lacking.  Scars may need revising.  Work with your PS and be sure you get the final result you are happiest having.  Your new breasts should look normal and natural.

ok now I understand , thanks. I am hoping that the only thing I will have to do are nipples and will chooe the tattoo method. 

For those who have already had their DIEP and had external radiation treatments prior to their reconstruction, I have a question.  Did the radiation effects make healing slow?  Was your plastic surgeon concerned about the flap "taking"?

My radiation side has healed faster and nicer than the other side. I had a BMX.

I had radiation 4 years before my recon and was also worried, as the skin on that side seemed much thinner. I had a hard time imagining it accomadating a flap. But my PS wasn't worried and so far, it's been just fine - I can't believe how healthy that side looks now, actually. Though I'm only 2 weeks out.



My PS said past radiation would be more an issue with implants. As I consider possibly doing implants later under my flaps - I only had enough tummy fat for very small new girls! - I wonder about the radiated side again. But I think as long as tissue expansion isn't required, it should be ok?

My surgery is coming up tomorrow and I'm slowly but surely becoming a big ball of nerves, yipes!

Aw, Cuetang.....not surprising at all to have the nerves "ramp up" the day before. I'm sure we all will be the same. Hope you have friends, family or activity to help distract you today. Do you have to travel for your surgery? Sounds like you gals on the East coast have had quite the winter so far. I'll be thinking of you, and sending hugs today and tomorrow.