DIEP 2014

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2015

    What is recovery like for stage 2? I'll be getting nipples, a lift to both DIEP sides and dog ears on the tummy incision fixed. Is a week off from work enough? My job is not too physical. Do you get drains again?

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2015

    You will have drains but they are short-lived. I was out for 2 weeks.

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  • Teacher64
    Teacher64 Member Posts: 840
    edited March 2015

    I didn't have drainsin stage 2. Check with your surgeon.

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  • Sassy01
    Sassy01 Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2015

    I was off for 1.5 weeks. I had fat grafting, lipo, scar revision and some necrosis removal. No drains for me!! It was the easiest surgery I had last year!

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2015

    Thanks everyone for letting me know what to expect. I really questioned whether I wanted to go through another surgery, but now I'm getting excited and can't wait to see the final results. I'll also be getting my port out, yay! Plus I have two yellow, fatty spots under my eyes which I have hated for years. PS is going to remove those too! 

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  • Kb33
    Kb33 Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2015

    my redo on stage 2 was great! Feeling great after surgery on Thursday. Flew home Saturday and back to work today. Massive migraine for three days and feel like I was beat by a baseball bat all over. But so happy with results. Run down of work completed: 1 drain for less than 24 hours. Scar revision and injection of steroids into scars. Breast lift, enhancement, fat grafting, lypo everywhere.... Lol

    Was taken care of so well and while still swollen.... Looks like outcomes will be fantastic.

    Thnx for everyone's support.

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  • MommaK
    MommaK Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2015

    debiann - You and I have the same PS and I just wanted to let you know that I have had two stage 2 surgeries and did not have drains after either of them. I took two days off after the first surgery and returned to work the day after the second one. A lot of tenderness in the hip area after the first surgery (dog ear revisions and it did feel like I was beaten by a baseball bat), but otherwise a very quick and easy recovery.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2015

    I'm so jealous of all you ladies that dodged drains at Stage 2!

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  • enjoyevrymoment
    enjoyevrymoment Member Posts: 334
    edited March 2015

    I did not have a dramatic stage 2, just the nipples done was all and the recovery was quick, I was pretty numb there so no pain. I am sure there is such variability since some people get different things done like lipo and fat injection and even more details addressed, depending on how stage 1 went and lots of other factors.

    Janet I fixed the link on my previous post. I am doing much better but for some reason my anniversary of my surgery was emotional. We are all so different. I feel very happy now and was quite so through most of the process but that came out of nowhere and I resonated with some of what the young girl said in the article. :)

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2015

    Enjoyeverymoment - Excellent article. She beautifully articulates what many of us have felt in the 'Why was I stronger during Treatment....' thread. It's so true that you have an army of support, and then it desserts you, and you have to find your own way back. One woman on BCO wrote that she had an inner warrior, and then she lay down her sword. What particularly resonates is that you should feel on top of the world - but you don't. (that comes later I think). Like you said - it's such a personal path. I'm glad you're feeling happy.

    Janet

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2015

    MommaK, its good to hear your stage 2 went so easy. Do you live in the Allentown area?

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  • jmb5
    jmb5 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2015


    enjoy, I read that article a few days ago, and could relate to a lot of it. It's been hard emotionally, but I feel like I'm doing better. I think the fact that summer and warmer weather is around the corner helps me too. I get my tattoos on April 3rd. I'm sure that will be emotional.

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  • MommaK
    MommaK Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2015

    debiann - Yes, I am local to the area. I live about 15 miles north of the LVH Cedar Crest site, between Neffs and Slatington. How about you?

    -Lisa

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2015

    Lisa, I grew up in Laury's Station and graduated from PHS, class or '79. I now live outside of Macungie. Small world!

    I keep trying to move on, but things keep popping up (literally) to get in my way. First I had a concerning (to me) bump following diep. Had an ultrasound which showed nothing, redoing that in May. I had all kinds of crazy thoughts about what that bump could be, and isn't it weird how the most logical answer (an un- dissolved stitch) is so hard to accept?

    So I'm finally getting past that and I get a weird swelling in my leg. Another ultrasound says its probably a Baker's cyst, which is common and generally benign. Of course I'm googling like crazy and find the rare but malignant "myxiod lipo sarcomas" and decide with my luck that will be it. So sad we feel we cannot trust our bodies anymore.

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  • Teacher64
    Teacher64 Member Posts: 840
    edited March 2015

    enjoy...excellent article. Thanks for sharing

    Jmb5...I have LOVED my "tittoos," as a friend has called them. I will need a touch up and am going to do it in May. They are the cherry on top

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  • caligirl3
    caligirl3 Member Posts: 86
    edited March 2015

    Hello ladies! I have not posted in a while. I have been in "recovery mode" had some issues with my shoulder and some cording (AWS) requiring PT. Had a hard time wrapping my head around being diagnosed after surgery.Feeling guilty about feeling that way, since I know that I should be grateful it was caught at an early stage. Its good to see that many of you are doing well and some have had their stage 2 surgeries. I had my stage 2 on March 11th. I had revision of both breast scars, the flap circles were made smaller, revision of dog ears, some fat grafting to fill in divots. Overall not too bad, but I am still quite sore 2 weeks out and I noticed some hardened areas at my waist (lipo to flank area) that are quite tender. Is that normal? Also the steri strips (I have quite a few on both breasts and at the ends of abdominal incision) are not loosening up at all. Usually by 2 weeks some would have come off by now. I am afraid to force them off. What has been your experience with steri strips? Its good to read that many of you are recovering quite well from your surgeries.

    jmb5 I wish you the best on getting your tattoos! I am so happy for you.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2015

    This is so TMI that I can't even believe I'm asking BUT... I feel like my scar has pulled everything below it up quite a bit. Like my pubic hair line seems higher, and my ladybits seem a little more...exposed. Anyone else have this? At Stage 2, is this remedied when the scar is lowered? OK, blushing my way out the door now...

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited March 2015

    LAstar, you made me chuckle because although I'm only a little over 2 weeks out I have a hard time looking at my body. My belly button seems higher than it was and I really don't like the shape of it-very shallow. My new breast seems like it is over to the side too much so that I constantly feel it with my arm down. Hoping these things resolve with time and I learn to accept the 2.0 version! I'll be watching for responses...

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2015

    LAstar - Ditto about the pubic hair line. It definitely got pulled higher, and I mostly notice it when I'm wearing my favourite pajama bottoms and have to keep them hiked higher than I normally would. Don't know about the girl parts being more exposed - but of course - I'm going to check up on it next time my pants come off.

    Belly button is also high, and not as cute as the original. But not bad, either. And it's not as though I'm going to wear a bikini...

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2015

    LA Star -- here's a TMI related to the same area -- I thought my toilet was leaking at one point -- it was me -- change in trajectory when I was peeing!  Crazy huh.

    I'm home from nipple recon with little medicine cups protecting the new nips.  Janet -- Dr. H gets sweeter every time I see him -- I'm going to miss him when this whole shin-dig is over:)


     

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2015

    Thanks, ladies -- it's so comforting to hear stories from other women trying to get accustomed to these customized bodies. Ridley, you gave me a good laugh! It's surprising what all gets a lift with DIEP.

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  • enjoyevrymoment
    enjoyevrymoment Member Posts: 334
    edited March 2015

    You are all cracking me up. First thing I laughed at in this regard was the Ken Doll phenomenon (I think Teacher was the first one I heard say that but it originated prior to her I think) . Hee hee the stuff we go through and adjust to!!!

    Regarding post healing and so forth, I do find that I am drawn to a new job that I applied for, which is less stressful and seriously is true to my vibe probably more..... don't know if I will get it but there was a time I would not have taken such a pay cut or let go of the adrenaline rush of this current job.... oh how we change, and I do think most is for the better!

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  • Teacher64
    Teacher64 Member Posts: 840
    edited March 2015

    LA star - my hair line is higher, but I was concerned about being lopsided! My PS did a little work so "lady parts" were even. I was and still am pleased with the result. Never TMI here

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited March 2015

    FYI Ask the Doctor is back up.

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited March 2015

    Hi everyone, I'm 3 weeks post op and was wondering if my breast shape will change much, it's like the outermost 1/3 is flat. I did have my nipple removed but it is more area than the nipple. I'm also now considering having my nipple done at stage 2 but wonder where the donor site is? I'm just curious at my changing body and will ask next apt, but wondering if anyone else has experienced this breast shape post op? Thanks!

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited March 2015

    Post-Stage 1, my breasts had corners! There is probably not much fat left to soften things, but the fat grafting at Stage 2 will help a lot.

    My PS did an origami-fold nipple recon so there was no donor tissue. Ask your PS what technique s/he uses.

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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2015

    Slv, my shape changed over a number of months. I had a spot at the bottom of one side that was hard, and it softened up after several months.

    Re nips, I had mine done last week. The PS used the skin from the crop circles and made a nip on each side - like origami. I also had fat grafting to try and even up the top of one side. This is my second try at fat grafting, as most of the fat from the first try re absorbed. My PS took fat from my upper abdomen the first time and my flanks and inner thighs this time. My friend and i I joked that this is they first time in my life that I have ever hoped that fat stayed put!

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2015

    Ridley - Congratulations! Sounds like you're very close to being finished - how are you enjoying being anatomically correct?


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  • Ridley
    Ridley Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2015

    Janet - totally happy with my decision. I think they will be cuter once the black stitches are removed (And they shrink a bit!

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  • Janet_M
    Janet_M Member Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2015

    Ridley - That's great - I'm glad your happy. And yes, once the stitches are gone they are definitely cuter. (And smaller)

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