Removal of DIEP reconstructed breasts/going flat after DIEP?

tetera
tetera Member Posts: 10
edited May 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello,

I’ve seen lots about explanting, but haven't see this before so if there are those out there who have done this, I would love to hear your input!

I had a prophylactic skin-sparing non-nipple sparing double mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction in Oct. ‘18. Long story short, while the results “took,” and, I was (and am!) VERY relieved not to have cancer, I was very unhappy with the results and ended up having revision surgery with a different PS in Dec. ‘18.

Now, the “breasts” look good, but I am very uncomfortable with them. They’re far bigger than originally anticipated, the scars don’t bother me at all (I had a reduction when I was 21; so used to various scarring in that area), but the sternum pain is really bad and, at the best of times, I am self-conscious, during worse times I am in extreme pain.

I talked with my RN at the hospital breast cancer center and she said about 50% of people still have chronic pain after a DIEP reconstruction, but that many women with implants also get similar pain due to breasts being too large, and it could be a combination for me.

I asked if she knew anyone who chose to “go flat” after DIEP and she said not by choice, usually due to necrosis.

That being said, she talked it over with my breast surgeon who said if I wanted to go flat, I should go for it. She also said they can write me a script for prostheses should I choose to go that route. I have an appointment with my PS for a month from now to discuss options.

Has anyone here had their DIEP reconstructed “breasts” removed? (Or known anyone who voluntarily went flat after DIEP?) Would really love to hear people’s experiences....

Thank you!

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Comments

  • Pinky24
    Pinky24 Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2019

    The best place to find someone who has done that is in the Flat & Fabulous Facebook group

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  • tetera
    tetera Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2019

    Thank you for your reply; I’m not on Facebook but have seen the Flat and Fabulous website....

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  • Trishyla
    Trishyla Member Posts: 1,005
    edited May 2019

    Have you considered having them reduced? As far as I know you can have them reduced to any size you choose. Probably even AA. I know they typically makes your breasts larger during the initial surgery because it is far easier to make them smaller in revisions than it it to make them larger. I had mine reduced and lifted (mastopexy) during my first revision surgery. I felt much better afterward.

    Best wishes in whatever you decide to do. I hope you get the results you're looking for.

    Trish

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  • tetera
    tetera Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2019

    Thanks Trish, I have considered that, and, ostensibly that was supposed to have been done during the previous revision. During the initial reconstruction I was told that the surgeon said he might be able to do a B cup, and I said that was good because I didn’t want want them larger, but they ended up more like a D cup- larger than they were before the surgery and larger than they were after my reduction 15 years ago. (Thought not as big as before the reduction, thank goodness.)

    After the revision they are technically smaller and actually look more like breasts now, but they feel so foreign on my body- just like globs of fat pulling at my chest. I fear that, even if the surgeon managed to get them down, that feeling (and the DIEP-related pain) would still be there.

    I didn’t know about he sternum issues going into this; I probably wouldn’t have reconstructed if I had known. I just don’t know. However, the first PS really tried to push implants on me and spent more time discussing those; I said I would rather go flat but he told me I wouldn't be happy. These are all red flags that I should have gone to someone else to begin with- now it would be nice to hear from someone who has “been there, done that” with this “explanting” except after a DIEP reconstruction.

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