DIEP 2015

Thank you so much, LA star. It's comforting to hear that the waffling is normal, and it's so sweet how you and your daughter made the most of your recovery time. I'm hoping my kids will be a help and am starting to put plans in place for friends to help out as well.

I have a basic question for those who've had the DIEP. Right now I'm about 15 pounds heavier than I like to be -- I'm 5'1" and 128-130 pounds. I'm planning to stay at this weight for the surgery but really can't wait to get in better ishape. How much of a difference will I see in my stomach after surgery? Did you go down any sizes?

Yes, thank you jbdayton, that is encouraging. I have been mourning the partial loss of my gorgeous foob. I guess I will have to buck up and do the fat grafting later this year. I am going to finish my healing from the last couple of surgeries and take some time off from all this illness stuff. It seems to me I have been doing nothing but recovering since February. Makes me reguess my decision not to go flat.

Hi Ann, congrats on getting through to the next stage! I had stage 1 in March and have the same concerns regarding projection. I saw my PS 2 weeks ago and she explained that I didn't have enough fat to make up the same size breast so she was more concerned with cleavage appearance. I have areas of indentations that will need fat grating and definitely a reduction and slight lift on the other. She did say that more than likely my foob would probably be slightly flatter but with stage 2 at least both breasts will be more symmetrical. I did notice right out of surgery the lack of projection so maybe some women just don't have the donor fat to shape a more realistic projection? Overall I'm really happy, other than having to wear a padded bra (I'm a cup size different) I look quite good in clothing and not bad in a bathing suit. I have a couple dog ears that will need addressing but I figure atthis point I'm a work in progress! I'll be interested in hearing what others who have completed their surgery have to say.

I am getting anxious. I want to finish now.

Tomorrow's reconstruction revision surgery #3 has been rescheduled for June 1. Insurance is still reviewing medical documents and did not get the final approval to doc and hospital yet.

My initial date was May 27 but last Wednesday PS called and asked if I could move it up to May 19. I agreed and they notified insurance but on Thursday insurance requested all my medical documents all 500+ pages were sent that afternoon.

When they called this morning to find out the approval status the insurance pre cert team said they have 15 days to make a decision since it is not a medical emergency. So now, the next available date is June 1. I just want to be healed well before vacation in August.

My prayers and thoughts are with each and everyone of us for good healing and fabulous results.

ME sorry about the wound. Please be very careful and treat often. Since you have a friend specializing in wound care I am sure you understand. Good luck for quick healing. But be patient.

I found a silver lining about delaying my surgery. I can now make the 6 hour drive to go see my grandson graduate this Sunday. And if things work out I can visit with my college roommate for a little while before having to come back home on Monday.

Hope everyone is doing well after their procedure or preparing for a procedure.

I am BRCA2 positive and have decided to get a double mastectomy. I have known for about 5 yrs. and at first wasn’t going to, but I
would rather deal with this than chance getting cancer.  I went to a PS that specializes in DIEP, but I don't have enough fat in my stomach to do both breasts (that was a shock- I think I have plenty of fat). She talked to me about taking fat from by butt or thighs- no one area has enough fat for both sides. I don't really want to go in for one DIEP surgery from my stomach and have to go back to have fat removed from
another area. She recommended implants; I didn't want something foreign in my body- but may not have another choice. Has anyone had DIEP done on one breast and the other an implant, or gone in 2 times for DIEP one area at time? Or implants on both sides and you are happy with the results?

 

Hi everyone. I have posted on other threads but first time on this one. I just had my last neoadjuvant chemo yesterday, YEAH! So glad to be done with that part. Now, on to surgery.

For a little personal hx - my DH & I live in AZ, but he recently got a contracted job in Wash, DC area for at least one year. I'm not working (retired almost one year ago & have spent since Jan 2015 dealing with BC dx. Actually glad I wasn't working as would have been much harder for me to work at same time). Anyway, I've decided to go to Wash, DC, for my surgery as there is only one surgeon where I live that does DIEP flaps & I wasn't all that impressed with him when I went for a consult.

I did some research regarding surgeons in the DC & surrounding areas & selected Dr Venturi, PS, & Dr Vargas, BS. They work together & I found excellent reviews online. I'm wondering if anyone on this site has had either of these 2 surgeons & what your experience has been. I have been in contact with both offices & my experience on the phone has been positive. Especially with Dr Vargas & his office staff. He himself has called me twice even though I haven't even seen him yet, & has already taken my case to his tumor board. They have set up everything I need in advance based the date of my last chemo & on the day I'm flying in.

I am planning on having a DIEP flap for reconstruction at same time as BMX- that is if I don't need radiation. I am having a SNB (6/12) 2 weeks prior to surgery to find out if I'll need radiation or not. My understanding is If there are no cancer cells found with SNB, then I won't need radiation & the flap surgery can be done immediately. If I do need radiation, then the DIEP flap will have to be delayed, & tissue expanders will be put in for the interim.. My surgery is scheduled for 6/29.

Anyone else have these 2 docs? & if so, what was your experience?

Also, since my hsb is working at a new job & most of the time will be with me only during non working hours, what resources are there for help following surgery that may have been used by others, i.e. Getting to post op appts when restricted from driving, etc. I don't want to do this without him & that is another reason for doing this surgery in DC & my DH is excited about me being there with him for at least a couple months.. I just don't know anyone there or have any other support system in that area so any suggestions will be appreciated. BTW, the location we will be living in is Alexandria.

meded - I was about 15 pounds more than I wanted to be at surgery time, too. Unfortunately, while my tummy is now flat, I didn't lose a pound or drop any sizes. They say it takes time for everything to stop swelling, but I just got the OK to get back to exercising! Tummy looks great, super flat, now just need to get the rest to follow suit. My children are 13 and 10 and were very helpful this entire year. They will understand that you need the help, especially if they've never seen you recovering/ill before.

I'm BRCA 1 and I wish I'd known. I would have done the BMX and not have to deal with this cancer BS.

Good luck!!

I was wondering if anyone in the Fort Worth area had their surgery at Plaza? The doctor told me that I could have my surgery on June 2nd at Plaza. It was originally planned at Baylor but apparently they can't get any OR time until July and I've been waiting a year for insurance etc to get taken care of? Anybody have any words of encouragement?

Websister, good luck tomorrow, sending positive hugs for uneventful surgery and quick healing!

Mardea15--I did not use the two Dr. V's, but I've heard very good things about them from a group of ladies that I lunch with monthly. I'd never heard of them until it was too late. If you want me too, I can post something on the thread here that we use to communicate about our lunches and ask them to send you a PM to discuss.

I don't know of any services to get patients to and from appointments I'll bet you'll be having surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Near there is a place called Life with Cancer with a lot of free and excellent services. You might want to call them to see if they have any leads on transportation. That said, if I am avaialble (being that I have to travel a lot this summer), I would be happy to take you to appointments. I know how it is, and I'd do anything to help another BC sister.

Has anyone out there had a Stacked DIEP? I had a bilateral mastectomy almost a month ago with SGAP reconstruction. Eleven hours later, PS decided to call it quits after trying four times and removing rib cartilage two times. I can try again in at the 3 month mark. He said he wants to try a stacked DIEP for the next round, even though I was told initially I was not a DIEP candidate because I store my fat in my thighs.

I don't understand exactly what happens in this surgery. He said something about having to form a new belly button. Is this true? How big is the scar? What is the recovery time? How do you get up and down with your stomach being cut?

Thanks for any help.

Hi All: On the belly button...my PS said that the incision in just below your belly button and when they sew you up again, they pull your skin down like a window shade and cut a new opening over your existing belly button. That analogy really helped me understand what they did and why I felt so tight. I still feel tight 8 weeks after surgery, even though I've been walking, doing yoga, and stretching. I still can't sleep on my side because it is sore. But all my doctors say I'm healing normally. I agree that you are feeling much better after 4 weeks, but I'm far from recovered at 8 weeks.

I talked to my PS about how flat my foob looks, no projection where the nipple was and he said that is normal and to be expected and Phase II won't change it. I'm kind of disappointed with how it looks especially compared to my natural one. It is a little bit larger on the sides and my bras don't fit right. I'm hoping the swelling goes down so it looks more like the other. In August I will have some minor fat grafting to fill a "hole" up on top of my foob and get a nipple, but not much more than that. I talked to him about lifting both breasts and he asked if I wanted to have an "anchor" incision on my good breast, but I don't want to mess with it that much. I'm coming around to being thankful to having a breast that is mine and that looks good in clothes and bathing suit.

I didn't appreciate what a major operation this was and how long I would be feeling not myself. I am glad that I still have one natural breast. And, I'm not sure I would have done anything differently.

Good luck and I hope all surgeries went well!