Before and after an extremely complicated left breast and total chest wall reconstruction with a DIEP flap. This patient had previously healed from a near radical mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, she had a recurrence in the deep tissues and two ribs that required a radical resection and flap reconstruction. A combined procedure was planned with the surgical oncologist.
An extremely large defect was created that involved exposure of her heart and lung from removal of her left chest wall muscles and ribs. A DIEP flap not only filled the defect created by the cancer resection, but it created a new breast mound. Additional incisions were made on her left neck to perform microvascular anastomosis to blood vessels outside the zone of injury and past radiation.
Follow up photos are shown 3 months after surgery. She is undergoing further oncologic treatments and will follow up with us for evaluation of second stage reconstructions such as nipple and areola reconstruction, should she wish.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
