Scarring after Diep

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trustinGod
trustinGod Member Posts: 22
edited July 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi

I really wanted the igap but now i'm focussing on the diep.

I've been told a diep would be better for me rather than the igap because my breast tissue is very soft.  I really worry about the scarring on the stomach.

The plastic surgeon said because i haven't got much fat in the lower part of stomach, the fat would have to come from higher up on the stomach, so the scarring will be higher up near the belly button rather than below closer to the bikini line.

Do the scars on the stomach after a diep proceedure fade so you can hardly notice them or are they still visable after a few years?

Does anyone regret having a diep because of the scarring on the stomach?

I really appreciate all answers.

ThanksUndecided

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  • FLtricia
    FLtricia Member Posts: 140
    edited November 2011

    My scars faded, but I would say they would definitely be noticed if I exposed them.  My surgery was in 2008.

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  • Snobird
    Snobird Member Posts: 593
    edited November 2011

    I'm one yr post DIEP and my scarring has faded quite a bit. I would not hesitate to do the DIEP again. The flat stomach is a bonus in my mind. My scar is just under my new navel and it doesn't really bother me at all. I'm getting ready to go in for Stage 2 for nipples and shaping. Getting a very skilled surgical team is important. I wear a tanking to swim and my scar is visible when the top gets raised up when I raise my arms. Doesn't bother me.

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  • lovetosail
    lovetosail Member Posts: 544
    edited November 2011

    I was surprised at how much the scar has faded - I was quite worried about that aspect of DIEP too.  Like Snobird, I wouldn't hesitate to do DIEP again!

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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited November 2011

    The circle scar on my diep breast is much more troubling than the stomach scar.  I am two years out and had even had scar revision.  Heavy sigh.

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  • trustinGod
    trustinGod Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2011

    Hi to you all and thanks for your replies, it really helps.

    Chinablue - is the circle scar another circle scar around the areola or is it along the areola line?  Did you have a skin graft moved to the breast?

    Snobird - Do they actually move the navel?

    Thanks for all answers and anymore coming in.

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  • Snobird
    Snobird Member Posts: 593
    edited November 2011

    No they don't move the navel they just pull the upper skin down over it to meet the lower skin and cut a hole over your existing navel to make a new one in the same location. At least that is the way it was explained to me. I just had new nipples done 5 days ago along with some liposuction and dog ear revision. Back to my vitamin E routine. I look like I've been beat with a stick from the lipo but I'm pretty much pain free at this point.

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  • trustinGod
    trustinGod Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2011

    Snobird : ) Thanks for information about the navel. That's cleared up a lot of troubled thoughts

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  • trustinGod
    trustinGod Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2011
    I would be really gratful to anyone who could email me a photo of their stomach scars post 1 year or more diep surgery. seawaves22@aol.com
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  • JannoD
    JannoD Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2011

    I am just a little over one year post DEIP reconstruction and I am AMAZED at how much the scar on abdomen AND breast have faded. Almost completely not noticeable on the breast and not bad at all on the abdomen either...mine is pretty low although my bikini days were over about 40 years ago (I am 58, LOL). Even my husband says the scars are hardly noticeable. I will try to remember to take a photo and email to you when I get home. I would do the DEIP over again in a heartbeat. Surgery is rough, recovery wasn't too bad although I did have some trouble with seroma so kept one drain for a very long time....but the outcome was worth ALL of it. DEIP breast is lovely and other than no sensation, feels perfectly natural and is ME.

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  • morgaine109
    morgaine109 Member Posts: 161
    edited December 2011

    The scar on my stomach is red and has spread out. That's just the way I heal, I'm told. Also, the circular scar on my foob is still red. I had a DIEP in late 2007.

    The scar is the worst part of the DIEP. I wish insurance covered the laser surgery to clear it up.  

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  • Snobird
    Snobird Member Posts: 593
    edited December 2011

    Morgaine, Did you ask your insurance about scar revision from your first surgery? If not I would discuss it with them or have a Dr staff try and get it covered. I would think that if it were really bad after all this time you might be able to get it fixed.

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  • chinablue
    chinablue Member Posts: 545
    edited December 2011

    My scar is much like morgaine.  It is red and spread out at the stomach and at the breast.  The scar at the breast is not near the aerola.  It is at least an inch and a half away from the aerola.  My mx/diep was Aug. 2009.

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  • KimmieRonk
    KimmieRonk Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2018

    It's been a year since my diep flap surgery, and I still have really dark red/burgundy colored, and lumpy scarring, completely around both breasts, as well as across my stomach. And I have so much hardened scar tissue inside my body, that I would never be able to tell if I developed another tumor, again. The tightness in my new breasts and in my stomach, is so uncomfortable all the time. If I had to do it all over again, I would forego any reconstruction. The surgeries involved, have been more difficult to cope with, than the cancer itself.

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited July 2018

    How the scars look post-DIEP comes down to 2 things: how your body heals is 1 of them -keloid development is an example. But a lot of it comes down to the skill of the surgeon and whether you had scar revision surgery in stage 2. If you looked at the surgein's Before and after photos and what you're dealing with looks nothing like what you saw in his photos, another appointment needs to be made and questions asked. If you don't trust him to do revisions, you can go to another surgeon to have them done. And insurance pays for it because it's part of reconstruction. Many women choose to go to NOLA for correction of other PS's work. You do not have to live with a body you want to cover up and you don't have to live with tightness and lumpiness.

    www.breastcenter.com


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  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited July 2018
    Kimmie, I went to a physical therapist trained in lymphedema and she really helped to break up the scar tissue. It is not as tight now and feels much better than it did for the first year after surgery.
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  • KimmieRonk
    KimmieRonk Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2018

    I just emailed you with some photos, as requested :)

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  • KimmieRonk
    KimmieRonk Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2018

    Thank you!! I do need to get this scar tissue broken up. I feels like I'm wearing a small corset, 24/7.

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  • KimmieRonk
    KimmieRonk Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2018

    I never had scar revision surgery, because my body did not handle chemotherapy or surgery, well at all. I had a lot of complications, and multiple hospital stays, from both. I will try and focus on improving discomfort and fatigue, though. If the related medical bills aren't too outrageous.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited July 2018

    My scars are very fine white lines, not bad at all.

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