Before and after left delayed DIEP flap breast reconstruction in a 55 year old woman with a left breast cancer. She previously had undergone right lumpectomy and radiation for another breast cancer. She was told she was not a candidate for breast reconstruction because she was “too fat for an implant”. She had more than enough tissue for an abdominal free flap!
Her left breast was reconstructed with a DIEP flap. Only a quarter of her abdominal overhang was used. She elected to leave her left breast alone, which was previously radiated and contracted. She lost an extra 16 pounds of fat from her belly!
Her right nipple sat low on the breast. It was moved as a free nipple graft higher on the breast. A left nipple reconstruction used the local flap technique. Medical tattoo made new areola circles on both sides. Follow up photos are shown 8 months after her second stage surgery.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
