Need all new breast skin bc of positive margins - any one else?

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Kstinekd
Kstinekd Member Posts: 40
edited September 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

Hello all. I feel like I may be the only person in the world with this situation, so I'd love to find a buddy or two who understands. Diagnosed stage 3a at age 45 (two kids, ages 8 and 11) with a 10cm multicentric tumor and 4/4 nodes on right side. None of it ever seen on imaging. I had BMX and tissue expanders on 11/29/19. The they discovered I had positive margins. Went through DD AC+T, radiation, hysterectomy and now on Anastrozole.

Now I have a major surgery coming up next week to remove all breast skin and tissue expanders and replace it with stomach skin and fat. PS recommends doing both sides for symmetry. I have been trying to learn about DIEP flap surgery and I can't tell if people ever start with no breast skin, like I will. Is there anyone else out there?

Thank you, sisters.

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited September 2019

    In my reading and experience, most women retain most of their breasts skin. The underside of my DIEP breast is belly skin. PM me if you’d like a photo (won’t be until tonight as I’ve removed my breast pictures from my phone-finally!

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  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited September 2019
    I had a left breast mastectomy, then a bilateral DIEP surgery a year later. They use the skin from your abdomen to create a “flap” that replaces your breast skin. So you are not alone. If you would like to know more about it, read through the DIEP threads. There is a ton of information there and you will see many women who are in different stages of reconstruction. Good luck!
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