Immediate DIEP Flap Reconstruction - India Breast Reconstruction

Delayed Diep Flap Reconstruction

Using Abdominal Fat

(DIEP Flap Reconstruction- Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator)

The DIEP flap is regarded as the gold standard procedure for breast reconstruction and can be used for immediate or delayed reconstruction. This method, when used at the same time as mastectomy uses just the fatty tissue from the abdomen and not the skin to restore the breast. The breast skin is left behind at the time of MASTECTOMY. The result in the abdomen is similar to that of a tummy tuck meaning that the abdominal contour is improved as well. One huge advantage of the DIEP procedure is that it does not affect the muscles of the abdomen.

Several days before the operation the patient will have an anaesthetic assessment to establish that they are fit for the lengthy procedure. This will take into account the patients medical history and their general health.

A CT scan is always carried out prior to surgery. This is used to visualise and assess the flow patterns of arteries and veins and provides information about the best place to the take the tissue from before the operation begins.

Generally there will be two surgeons present at these operations. The Breast Surgeon will perform the mastectomy, and a Plastic Surgeon performs the reconstruction.

As with all procedures there are ‘pros’ and ‘cons’. To help give you an overview the main ones are listed below.

Pros

Uses your own tissue (fat) which means that your new breast will usually closely resemble the normal breast in texture and movement and in shape and movement.
The reconstructed breast will change with the opposite breast. If you put on weight the breast will increase in size and similarly a loss of weight will mean the breast will reduce – it will alter and age as you alter and age in shape and size as it is living tissue.
Scarring on the reconstructed breast, particularly with EMIR reconstruction is minimal and discreet.
This form of reconstruction usually improves over time.
Can leave the patient with a flatter tummy.
Abdominal muscle is left intact, only fatty tissue is taken from donor site
Single operation to clear the cancer and rebuild a normal breast

Cons

The operation is a bit longer
The flap is monitored every hour for the first three days
2 month recovery period.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Surgery time	4 Hours
Hospital stay	4 Days
Anaesthetic assessment	Yes, you will meet the anaesthetist prior to surgery
Bladder Catheter	Yes
Confined to bed	First day only
Up and walking	Day after the surgery
Reasonably mobile	1 week
Full recovery	6 weeks
Time off work	6 weeks
Bras and garments	Abdominal binder and bra worn for 2 weeks
Long term issues	None
Secondary surgery	Nipple reconstruction for CAMIR. Possible liposuction and/or auto fat injections. Possible surgery to opposite side to achieve symmetry