Advice for Stacked DIEP Reconstruction

Options
39andhip
39andhip Member Posts: 164
edited August 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi all,

I am having a single mastectomy with stacked DIEP reconstruction hopefully sometime soon (still working on a date). I've been preparing for this by reading about general 'must-haves' for mastectomy, but was hoping to connect with someone out there who has done this particular reconstruction. I know it's not very common, and I'm hoping for some advice, thoughts, anything - as well as tips for gaining or at least maintaining abdominal fat during the stressful time leading up to surgery. (I am one who loses weight with stress - never knew this could be a bad thing).

Thanks!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • klanders
    klanders Member Posts: 244
    edited August 2015

    Hi, I had stacked DIEP flap at NOLA. Who is doing your surgery? I think my experience with stacked DIEP was really the same as anyone who had a normal DIEP. At first I thought I'd never stand up straight again - but give it time, you will. I won't kid you - it was an incredibly hard surgery and during recovery I wished I hadn't done it. BUT... cosmetically every time a doctor looks at me he/she can't believe that I've had a mastectomy - and for me it was bilateral. I like looking in the mirror and feeling normal. (I kept my nipples/skin.) Unfortunately I've had a recurrence in my left breast so I have new issues and scars that I'm dealing with. Oh, and I still have numbness/soreness in the areas around my abdomen/hip scars AND in my breasts. But it doesn't bother me.

    Regarding losing weight... just keep eating! Maybe something like Ensure if you have to? I'm 5'6". I lost weight, too, before the surgery, so I went in at about 122 pounds. In the year after surgery I kept my weight around 117 pounds. I'm bummed that now I've picked up some weight again around my middle and I'm up to 128 pounds. Last time the stress caused me to stop eating much... this time I'm eating all the wrong foods! Oh, well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited August 2015

    Thanks for the input. I'm sorry about the recurrence. :( Was that in the transplanted tissue? I am surprised that at 122 pounds you had enough tissue for bilateral reconstruction. I'm not actually super thin (5'6" and about 132 lbs.), I just don't have a lot of abdominal fat. I know this is not going to be a fun recovery, but I hope it is best for me in the long run. I really don't want an implant, and I think my husband is pretty weirded out by the thought of me not doing reconstruction at all (and so am I, to be honest). So... here we go. But it is good to know it is pretty much the same as a regular old DIEP, as that seems much more common.

    I'm having my surgery done up at the U of CO hospital - Anschutz Medical Center.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • klanders
    klanders Member Posts: 244
    edited August 2015

    When I had my BMX/DIEP the doctor didn't get clean margins. (I made the mistake of making sure I had the best plastic surgeons who were marvelous at working on very thin people, and didn't end up with the best breast surgeon - it was a general surgeon filling in for their normal surgeon.) They went in one week later and tried taking more tissue out (not the new tissue) and seemed to think that they got clean margins that time. But my recurrence was near the scar where the doc went back in to get clean margins. I know now that someone should have recommended that I have radiation at that point but no one did. As much research as I had done, I still did things wrong.

    Anyway, regarding the stacked DIEP... your waist scars might be longer than a normal DIEP... mine wrap around to the back of my hips. I'm not thrilled to be going through this again BUT I am thrilled that I don't have implants.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MicheTheVanquisher
    MicheTheVanquisher Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2015

    I had a stacked DEIP 3 years ago at NOLA and like klanders am thrilled I have a natural feeling fake breast. I did it as much for DH as for myself, I think I could have lived without. Still, since I had to go through something (the MX) I'm glad I did this even though the recovery was hell. I had only one small breast done and still they had to do a stacked DEIP. I'm 5'7" and was 145 of muscle with little fat--for once I was glad I had the tummy fat I did. Eat Ben & Jerry's! Eat Kettle Chips! For once fat is good and when it's over you will have no tummy fat at all. As my brother said wow, that's awesome--breast reconstruction and a tummy tuck for the price of one!

    I felt like I'd never stand straight again. Stooping over went on for months and I still have shoulder pain I think I got from stooping over for so many months. Still, because they don't cut into muscle you can still have strong abs and it was kind of cool to hear the blood flowing through the transplanted vessels. And now I am standing tall with 2 very even breasts. And they will never have to be touched like implants would.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited August 2015

    Thank you Miche - this is helpful, and I'm glad to hear from people who don't regret their decision (because I'm starting to worry I will regret it...). The doctor told me I wouldn't be able to walk upright for 'a while' but now I will know not to freak out if it goes on for months. I'm trying to eat a lot of fattening stuff despite my lack of appetite. Definitely lots of Kettle Chips. :) Unfortunately, fat tends to accumulate in my thighs and butt rather than my abdomen but I think I'm holding my own.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 371
    edited August 2015

    Hi ladies,

    I wondered if anyone has had experience with a stacked bi lateral diep with using tummy & thighs. Plastic surgeon said this would be a good option for me but I'm not so sure it sounds incredibly painful but he thinks he can get me to a c cup after having dd's prior to bmx.

    I have already had my bmx last December with expanders placed and sadly had them both removed due to a terrible infection that lasted 6 months so implants sadly are not an option for me now.

    Looking at surgery in November.

    Thank you for your help :)

    G

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories