DIEP and Igap ?

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SoL263817
SoL263817 Member Posts: 21
edited November 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello y'all !


So, I'm done with treatment and it's time to think seriously about reconstruction.

My surgeon gave me a list of option with pros and cons but looking online revealed he offered me option that are not quite common.

I'm 5'5 for 115lbs, quite fine so but still little excess skin on the belly due to my babies.

One option is to do a DIEP flap and a IGAP flap. That'd give me a C-cup (yeah!) but it looks like an hard recovery.

A DIEP alone wouldn't give me a lot to go with...

We can add my thighs but it'd still give me small breast, not much to take there.

And there's always the implant option, with a DIEP before to try to get a better result but that'd mean I'd have to change those implant every 8years or so apparently (had radiation)...


A lot of things to think about... But mostly, anyone with DIEP and Igap ? Anyone with Igap at all? I can't really find a lot about this one...

Thank you and have a wonderful day !




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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2018

    Hi SoL and thanks for posting!

    We're sure others will be by shortly to weigh in with their thoughts and experience. In the meantime, have you seen the main Breastcancer.org site's very thorough Reconstruction section, mainly the pages on DIEP Flap and IGAP Flap reconstruction? You may find some info there that you haven't gotten elsewhere.

    We hope this helps and we look forward to hearing about your decision!

    --The Mods

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  • SoL263817
    SoL263817 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2018

    Well, thank you for the links. As a matter of fact, I already read them and was looking more for someone who went through with it and even better, someone who went through with the 2 procedures at the same time 😉

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2018

    Sounds good -- someone will likely be by soon to share.

    Best of luck!

    --The Mods

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  • SoL263817
    SoL263817 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2018

    Anyone ? I can't find anything online either and begin to wonder if my surgeon is just being creative with me or if he is That good...

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  • SoL263817
    SoL263817 Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2018

    Hello everyone !


    So, I never received any answer to my post... kinda disappointing ! Is it because no one used that procedure ?

    I decided to go for it anyway, DIEP and IGAP done at once. The surgery is schedule for November the 14th. If anyone knows anything about it before... let me know !!

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  • besa
    besa Member Posts: 1,088
    edited October 2018

    I had diep on one side and then 5 years later a contralateral sGAP on the other. I am not a match for what you are looking for but since no other women have posted I will offer some thoughts.

    First--have you asked your p.s. to give you the names if other patents who have had this procedure? Anyone who is good should have a long list of happy "customers" who are more than willing to talk to you and even show you their results in person. You want a ps who has done this surgical combination multiple times. You should be able to get this contact info.

    Consider getting a 2nd opinion from one of the high volume microvascular ps groups that are known for doing these combination surgeries -Robert Allen's group in New York city or DellaCroce's group in New Orleans. They may just confirm that you are on the right path but it would be a nice reassurance.

    Does your current ps do GAP surgery in high volume - hopefully multiple hundreds a year. Is he or she combining flaps or doing GAP on one side and DIEP on the other?

    Good luck and keep us posted.

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  • SoL263817
    SoL263817 Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2018

    Sooo, I had my surgery last Thursday. It lasted literally all day as they ended at 11pm (and started at 10am).

    The pain was really bad on Friday, when I went back home but by Sunday, it was already a bit more manageable.

    I see my surgeon this afternoon, I'll be able to talk about all my concern but though I could share some with y'all, see if it's not abnormal...

    First, I gain 9lbs !!! WTF ? I've always been really conscious about my weight and this gain saddens me so bad. My husband says it might be because of all the liquid they give you while under anesthesia but still, 9lbs ? 4 days post-op and still 6lbs extra ! I drink a lot of water and try to eat as little as I can just to go back to my regular size, no one told me I was going to gain weight !! (I'm sorry if that sounds stupid to some, I suffered from eating disorder for 15 years now and was finally feeling more comfortable in my body and psychologically, I'm having a real hard time)


    Second, my breast are completely different ! And when I say different, I'm not kidding, not the same size, position,shape ! I mean,I know breast are never really identical but right now, you couldn't say it is the same person if you were looking from one side then the other !

    I'm having a really hard time adjusting and my husband seems to don't care. My in-laws are there to help us with the kids and I'm really completely grateful for that but no one really talks to me, I'm in my room, alone, not allowed to do anything but walk a few minutes everyday...

    Sorry for the long long text, I just needed to say something, evn if no-one answer...

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