Dorsi Latissimus Flap

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MB1010
MB1010 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Breast Reconstruction


After a double mastectomy and 11 surgeries for reconstruction to no avail ... I have elected a


Dorsi Flap... I am 54 years old and have been athletic and a gym buff all my life... Surgery is Oct 16th.. so nervous. Thinking that the muscle is in my back for a reason... but.. after wearing prosthesis for 6 months.. I want my girls back... So .. Ladies.. what can I expect? I'm willing to endure and work hard for the long run.. But.. I know no one who has personally gone through this and don't know the daily issues and what to expect during recovery... I'm coming down the home stretch and need to prepare..

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2013


    Hi MB1010, and welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're really sorry you're going through all this... but we're glad you found this great community for information and support.


    While other members come along to post with their experience and advise, you may want to read the article Latissimus Dorsi Flap, on our main site to help you prepare for your surgery.


    Wishing you the best,


    The Mods

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  • nurseronda10
    nurseronda10 Member Posts: 209
    edited October 2013


    MB1010, I had the LD flap reconstruction on the left and have been completely satisfied. It was a long recovery and the drains were a pain in the butt. I am an active 55 year old and can still do everything I did before such as weight lifting, cycling, weed eating, gardening, etc I can't tell I have lost any upper body strength. Be sure and ask your PS how many he has done. Mine had done over 2,000 LD flaps. Also be sure he cuts the nerve. My PS also asked what shape breast I wanted, tear drop or round. I think the key to a successful LD flap reconstruction is having an experienced PS. If you don't get good vibes do seek a 2nd opinion. The first PS I saw only spent 5 minutes with me, did not ask me any questions, and said he would try TE first and if that didn't work he could "take stuff off my back." I got out of there as fast as I could. Lol. Good luck with your surgery! Hugs

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  • Colcol
    Colcol Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2013


    I had a BMX w/LD flap one year ago this Friday. I went back to work 3 weeks after my surgery and went back to the gym doing lower body workouts 6 weeks after the surgery. I started PT 2 weeks after my surgery and went weekly in the beginning and then bi-weekly a month after surgery. The worse part of the recovery for me were the 4 drains that I had. Once they were out I felt emotionally and physically better.

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  • dayzoo
    dayzoo Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2013


    I had a uni-mx December 2012, and LD w/TE's 5 weeks ago.


    I'm 42 years old.


    Surgery was rough, but not as difficult emotionally as my mx was. I remember smiling when I looked down at my chest after this surgery. :)


    So, now, 5 weeks later (I've had 3 fills, going for my 4th tomorrow) I can finally open big heavy doors, and am getting my strength back in my right side. I used to be a stomach sleeper/right side sleeper, but haven't been able to sleep like that since surgery. It has taken some getting used to, to sleep on my left side or back.


    I had 2 drains, one front and one back, removed after one week. (Definitely the WORST part of the procedure!)


    Went back to work 5 days after surgery, but tried to not lift anything too heavy.


    I definitely feel happier now, without my prosthesis, and love to look in the mirror at my 'new' boob! Can't wait till all my fills are in, and I'm heading for the exchange surgery.


    I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have - you can PM me if you'd like, or keep posting here. This is a great site for info and support!!


    Angie

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  • HotPinkMess
    HotPinkMess Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2013


    I haad LD Flap on both sides September 10th. I don't even notice the muscles missing from my back, though they do feel very tight in front. I am down to 2 drains from 5 and have had one fill (50 ccs per side) I was too thin for other types of recon, so far this is working! Good Luck!

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  • klfbs
    klfbs Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2013


    Hi MB1010, Sorry that you have already been through so much in your reconstruction effort. I had LD flap surgery in 2006. I had had a partial mastectomy, so the LD flap was used along with an implant for my reconstruction. It is not an easy surgery or recovery, but my results were excellent. I was out of work for seven weeks and needed a lot of assistance at home initially, not being able to use my right arm. I did not require any formal physical therapy, but once allowed, had to slowly "walk" my hand up a wall a few times a day to regain mobility in the arm and shoulder. I found that this was most productive in the shower with warm water and steam. My only on-going problem is with twisting in certain ways. My LD flap is on the right side; often when I twist to the right I get an uncomfortable muscle spasm, similar to a "charley horse" in your foot. This can be difficult at times when doing yoga, because of the twists involved. I also have some muscle weakness on the right side, but nothing that changes my normal everyday activities. I am able to use weights in the gym, the rowing machine, etc. Good luck to you.

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  • Miss_Vesta
    Miss_Vesta Member Posts: 26
    edited October 2013


    Hello MB1010,


    I am sorry you are joining this club. I am 23 months out from having LD surgery. I had mine as an immediate reconstruction. And lucky me, they were able to save enough skin that I don't have the patch in the front. I had mine at 47.


    I am active and a weightlifter. For the first six months I did despair that I had done something terrible to my body. I was very happy with the breast, and unhappy with the strength and mobility I lost. My physical theapist helped with the strenth. It took a while for the smaller muscles to take over, but they did gain strength and most days I don't even notice the missing muscle. I did lose that definition of my waist on one side, it's subtle, but I notice it.


    They said you won't be able to push your self up out of a chair. and for a while I couldn't. Now I only occasionally have problems, when it's an okwardly shaped chair. I had problems with doors for a while, but I seemed to have learned to lean forward and pull my entire body back to swing the door wider. You adapt.


    I also started going to a gal who does medical massage. That was the best thing I could have done. I go every two weeks. She works on the scars and helps with range of movement. I thought I was doing well the first time I saw her. I had a full body massage. I went home after and had to take a nap. Got up after three hours and had dinner. I made myself stay awake until my usualy bedtime. I slept ten hours that night and every night for the next week. I didn't realize I had not been getting restful sleep. I started going twice a month and she is still improving the look and feel of the surgery. My plastic surgeon was very impressed with the improvements she's made. She simply uses her fingers to break up the scar tissue. It hurts like she's sticking her thumb nail into me. And for the next week I often feel new nerves waking up.


    It's a big change. You have to learn how to hold yourself straight again. You lose the balance from that muscle, but you develop new balance pretty quickly.


    I had only one breast removed. I am happy with the reconstruction. But if I had to have the other removed, well at this point I don't know if I would do it again or not. Probably. It's a big surgery. Don't let anyone tell you it's not. I slept in a lazy boy chair for weeks after.


    I am still healing and still doing rehab on it. But most days are pain free and I am comfortable with my decision.


    I have my implant and the nipple reconstruction. I am pretty impressed at how nice it turned out.

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  • jwilco
    jwilco Member Posts: 486
    edited October 2013
    My story is very similar to that of Miss_Vesta. I'm very happy with my results and am still able to everything I could before. I do sometimes feel like all of a sudden it will feel different as I'm doing it. But everything works fine. I'm happy with the results.
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  • MB1010
    MB1010 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2013


    thanks to everyone for your replies and support. I had the dorsi flap surgery on oct. 16th and with the exception of feeling tightness and constriction much like a very overly tight bra all is fine. I had a total of 4 drains 2 have already been removed and the other 2 are to be removed tomorrow. The drains are nothing compared to the tightness! Unless some of that is from the drains. ?? Hoping someone has experienced this tightness and has a goodwill story and outcome after a bit more time to heal.

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  • dayzoo
    dayzoo Member Posts: 55
    edited November 2013


    I understand the tightness! I'm 8 weeks out from surgery, and 6 fills are done. I'm fully expanded.


    The tightness definitely gets better and easier. You won't notice the gradual muscle changes until one day you say 'wow, I couldn't do that before' - lol


    What I think is so bizaare is when I touch my breast, I can feel the muscle 'tweak' in my back! Now that's freaky! hahah

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  • MB1010
    MB1010 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2014

    Since this surgery in October I have had nothing but  infection after infection. Picc line and 6 weeks of vancomycin therapy after expanders,  then expansion, then replacement with implants,  3 days after surgery Picc Line and Daptomycin for 6 week therapy,  3 days off picc recurring infection, again picc and 6 weeks of Daptomycin therapy followed by the beginning of daily oral penicillin which only lasted 3 days before infection return.. again on picc vancomycin.      Has anyone ever resolved an infection without removing the implant?

    I'm pretty sure that I have done everything possible and must remove the implants and quit...

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