Before and after left delayed implant reconstruction in a 71-year-old breast cancer survivor. Unfortunately, she was not offered the option to have breast reconstruction nor to save her nipple when she was diagnosed with breast cancer over 30 years ago.
Since that time, she learned about the pros and cons of implants and autogenous tissue (flap-based) breast reconstruction. She did not want a tissue expander and implant, and was missing much of her breast skin and her nipple. She felt strongly about keeping her abdominal core muscles intact, and was elated when she learned about the DIEP flap!
A segment of skin and fat was transplanted from her lower belly to her left chest using microsurgery. Much of the skin from her abdomen created a natural looking breast form which matched her natural breast on the other side well.
One year later, she had left nipple reconstruction using the “nipple sharing” technique, transplanting a portion of the right nipple to the left as a free nipple graft. Medical tattoo created a left areolar circle.
When she arrived for her follow-up visit after nipple reconstruction, she was in (happy) tears, exclaiming “I didn’t know how much I missed my nipple until I had it back!”
Follow up photos are shown 2 years after surgery. She finally threw away her external breast prosthesis and now loves wearing swimsuits! She is one of our oldest DIEP flap reconstruction patients. Age is one important consideration for any surgery, together with other health conditions, medications, and level of physical fitness. In this Septuagenarian’s case, she was healthy enough to have this surgery and did very well.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
