14 yrs ago with the 1st infiltrating cancer stage 1, grade 1, I was not given an option for any reconstruction had I chosen mastectomy. I was told it is best to save the breast by doing lumpectomy- radiation. 13 yrs later new DCIS stage 0 cancer popped up in the same breast & after doing biopsy on my left breast there was doubt for pre cancerous cell. They suggested surgical biopsy. So decision was made to go only skin sparing bilateral mastectomy & look for delayed reconstruction. My cancer surgeon didn’t help out much with getting me more options for reconstruction but one of doing latissimus flap on radiated right breast, tissue expanders & later switch them with implants. After fighting, doing my own research & hard work got a consultation with micro vascular plastic surgeon who recommended Diep flap reconstruction. 3 wks ago surgery was done @ USC. So recovering. I’m 69.5 yrs young 😊not sure what phase 2 may be FOR ME. But watching you & the other Dr. Talk about layered reconstruction sounds great answer to get little projection & symmetry 👍 One Q is the implant above the muscle or under the muscle? If you can answer this Q would help. thx for sharing your experience. Really appreciate it. GOD BLESS & stay cancer free 🙏
To my understanding, the implant in a combined DIEP Flap/implant reconstruction is that the implant is placed under the DIEP tissue so that the outer layer is the soft tummy tissue. I would definitely ask your plastic surgeon about placement if you are thinking of this "hybrid" breast reconstruction.
I have already have had a deep flat and going to do implants as my situation is almost identical to yours. How as pain and recovery after implants..thanks
Hi Lenny, I cannot answer the questions since I was not the one who had this done. The lady I interviewed had the procedure. However, if you are interested, there is the closed Facebook group, facebook.com/groups/diepcjourney/about/ you can request to join and ask the question there since she is in the group. You will have to answer a couple of questions and agree to the group rules if you care to join. Thanks for your question.
I'm nit her, but this is what i did too... mine was under the muscle.... i felt complete when I added my implants.... my recovery from the surgery wasn't bad....it hurt, of course, but totally doable.... I'm absolutely thrilled with my results, and i know i wasn't and couldn't be as happy as i am with diep alone ... my surgeon was totally honest with me, and gave me the available options.... he did say that to get the projection i wanted it would take many revisions with fat grafting, and he thought by experience that i wouldn't be happy....... I'm pretty sure he was right........ he did an amazing job and I'm thrilled with my results! 💓
@@carolinaalvesdelima Thank you so much for that information. I actually will be visiting with my doctor this week and at that point we will schedule the surgery for my implants. I am a little nervous as I’ve already had three surgeries which involved skin death. Hopefully this will be my final survey and I will be pleased as you are. Again thank you so much for the information and you take care of yourself
Please can anyone help me? I had DIEP flap surgery in march and it feels like I still have the tissue expander in me and they did DIEP flap on my non mastectomy breast also and I'm in a lot of nerve pain in that nipple. I'm in so much pain. Please help me. Idk what to do.
Hi Sylvia. The first step is to contact the plastic surgeon who performed your surgery and express your concerns. If this does not meet your satisfaction, you are certainly entitled to a second opinion from another surgeon. Look on this site for a video on telemedicine. Most plastic surgeons are doing telemedicine now. Depending on where you are located and if you are willing to travel for any other procedures, you can check out this site to look for other surgeons. www.plasticsurgery.org/connect?Google&CPC&PSEC-FY2022&Top-Converting-2021&keyword=find%20a%20plastic%20surgeon&device=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2IBhDkARIsAGVo0D3S9DjYhGIjMrm1AktbG1V-HTXiaN3olSbNbErrI6Sqf2e_Czp43woaAlc6EALw_wcB
@@DiepCFoundation thank you. Can ya recommend a good plastic surgeon. My Dr was suppose to be one of the best Diep flap reconstruction doctors. I live in Houston. Please
It didn’t go well for me at all. I lost an implant 9 days later due to lack of blood flow (radiation messed me up big time) and In September I had my other one removed because I was super lopsided. I barely have any of the original diep flap left because of lack of blood flow on both sides. Radiation really messed me up
14 yrs ago with the 1st infiltrating cancer stage 1, grade 1, I was not given an option for any reconstruction had I chosen mastectomy. I was told it is best to save the breast by doing lumpectomy- radiation. 13 yrs later new DCIS stage 0 cancer popped up in the same breast & after doing biopsy on my left breast there was doubt for pre cancerous cell. They suggested surgical biopsy. So decision was made to go only skin sparing bilateral mastectomy & look for delayed reconstruction. My cancer surgeon didn’t help out much with getting me more options for reconstruction but one of doing latissimus flap on radiated right breast, tissue expanders & later switch them with implants. After fighting, doing my own research & hard work got a consultation with micro vascular plastic surgeon who recommended Diep flap reconstruction. 3 wks ago surgery was done @ USC. So recovering. I’m 69.5 yrs young 😊not sure what phase 2 may be FOR ME. But watching you & the other Dr. Talk about layered reconstruction sounds great answer to get little projection & symmetry 👍
One Q is the implant above the muscle or under the muscle? If you can answer this Q would help. thx for sharing your experience. Really appreciate it. GOD BLESS & stay cancer free 🙏
To my understanding, the implant in a combined DIEP Flap/implant reconstruction is that the implant is placed under the DIEP tissue so that the outer layer is the soft tummy tissue. I would definitely ask your plastic surgeon about placement if you are thinking of this "hybrid" breast reconstruction.
@@DiepCFoundationthank you
I have already have had a deep flat and going to do implants as my situation is almost identical to yours. How as pain and recovery after implants..thanks
Hi Lenny, I cannot answer the questions since I was not the one who had this done. The lady I interviewed had the procedure. However, if you are interested, there is the closed Facebook group, facebook.com/groups/diepcjourney/about/ you can request to join and ask the question there since she is in the group. You will have to answer a couple of questions and agree to the group rules if you care to join. Thanks for your question.
I'm nit her, but this is what i did too... mine was under the muscle.... i felt complete when I added my implants.... my recovery from the surgery wasn't bad....it hurt, of course, but totally doable.... I'm absolutely thrilled with my results, and i know i wasn't and couldn't be as happy as i am with diep alone ... my surgeon was totally honest with me, and gave me the available options.... he did say that to get the projection i wanted it would take many revisions with fat grafting, and he thought by experience that i wouldn't be happy....... I'm pretty sure he was right........ he did an amazing job and I'm thrilled with my results! 💓
@@carolinaalvesdelima Thank you so much for that information. I actually will be visiting with my doctor this week and at that point we will schedule the surgery for my implants. I am a little nervous as I’ve already had three surgeries which involved skin death. Hopefully this will be my final survey and I will be pleased as you are. Again thank you so much for the information and you take care of yourself
@@carolinaalvesdelimaCongratulations! I hope you are still thrilled with your strong, beautiful, amazing body! God bless you!
@@carolinaalvesdelima still happy with results now?
that's what I had, love my results!
I am so happy to hear this Carolina. Thanks for sharing your comment.
@@DiepCFoundation thank you Terry! ❣
Please can anyone help me? I had DIEP flap surgery in march and it feels like I still have the tissue expander in me and they did DIEP flap on my non mastectomy breast also and I'm in a lot of nerve pain in that nipple. I'm in so much pain. Please help me. Idk what to do.
Hi Sylvia. The first step is to contact the plastic surgeon who performed your surgery and express your concerns. If this does not meet your satisfaction, you are certainly entitled to a second opinion from another surgeon. Look on this site for a video on telemedicine. Most plastic surgeons are doing telemedicine now. Depending on where you are located and if you are willing to travel for any other procedures, you can check out this site to look for other surgeons. www.plasticsurgery.org/connect?Google&CPC&PSEC-FY2022&Top-Converting-2021&keyword=find%20a%20plastic%20surgeon&device=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2IBhDkARIsAGVo0D3S9DjYhGIjMrm1AktbG1V-HTXiaN3olSbNbErrI6Sqf2e_Czp43woaAlc6EALw_wcB
@@DiepCFoundation thank you. Can ya recommend a good plastic surgeon. My Dr was suppose to be one of the best Diep flap reconstruction doctors. I live in Houston. Please
I’m actually waiting for March 19 to get my implants. I had a diep in November 2019
So to be clear, you will also be adding implants to your current DIEP like the lady in the video. Best of luck and hope all goes well for you.
@@DiepCFoundation thank you I appreciate that!
How did it go? Good results?
It didn’t go well for me at all. I lost an implant 9 days later due to lack of blood flow (radiation messed me up big time) and In September I had my other one removed because I was super lopsided. I barely have any of the original diep flap left because of lack of blood flow on both sides. Radiation really messed me up
How did it go? Are you happy with the results?