57.5 YEARS old too old to do a unilateral DIEP procedure?

I was 58 when I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. I healed faster than any other patient they've had. Shocked the hell out of the reconstructive surgeon. He tried to talk me out of the procedure since I'm an ex-smoker. Ha. I showed them. LOL!

Seriously, though, I would say if you feel up to it, then go for it. I'm really happy with my results. Look and feel like real breasts. Now, if they just had some feeling, I'd be a happy camper.

Best wishes for whatever you choose.

Trish

You know I would do it again in a heartbeat.

My best friend had it done when she was 73 and had no problems,

My surgery was 10 hours, he also did a lift match on the real side. I was a bit afraid but woke up never in any pain. As I was healing there was burning and strange sensations. Nothing that was too uncomfortable.

I was in excellent physical condition before surgery, bmi was 20.5 no smoker, really little drinking as well. I was swimming a mile every other day and and 1 hour, 3.5 miles on the treadmill everyday including the weekends. Then after surgery I literally spent 6 weeks lounging on the couch doing almost nothing.

Several months later I was back to exercising and swimming. Looked really good in my bathing suit. Better than I had looked in years.

rmgrmg, I am 61 and just had a bilateral DIEP on February 6th at PRMA in San Antonio, TX. I am very happy and would do it again in a heartbeat. I had no real pain, and only took Tylenol because they insisted. I was up walking, standing straight the very next day and out of the hospital in 3 days. I am overweight, but I am active and exercise. My surgery was 8.5 hours and I really have had excellent results, with minor pain (sneezing and coughing are not fun, but manageable). I absolutely love the feeling (warm, soft, pliable as opposed to cold, hard stiff breasts).

rmgrmg, mid 50s is not too old. I was 56.5. I had unilateral and my surgery was about 6 hours. I had one night in the ICU and one night in a surgical recovery floor and then i went home. I stopped narcotics when i left the ICU. I didn’t have the issues that some women described- I stood up fairly straight quickly, I slept on my back in my own bed as soon as i got home. I was back at my desktop job after 5 weeks. For me, DIEP was easier than the mastectomy

I just finished stage 2 of DIEP flap at age 60. Was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 9/2007 and had left-sided mastectomy. Was told that I could not do DIEP flap by plastic surgeon 2 yrs after all of my treatment was done due to the extensive scar tissue. Found an awesome surgeon at UPMC - Magee Women's Hospital 2 years ago who was not at all hesitant to go ahead. I have well-controlled type 2 diabetes, Sjogren's Syndrome auto-immune dx and a BMI of 29. I sailed thru the surgery, really. Had 6 weeks off work and then 2 weeks off for the breast reduction on the right side. I feel SO much better now - more energy, lost more weight, better self-esteem. SO happy I went ahead with it!

I had DIEP reconstruction following mastectomy in January and I am 65!