Before and after left delayed DIEP flap breast reconstruction in a 56-year-old breast cancer survivor. She was never offered breast reconstruction at the time of her breast cancer diagnosis. This is just plain tragic.
She found our office through online support groups and was so relieved to hear that it was not too late, and she was not too old to have breast reconstruction. Her lower abdominal skin and fat was microsurgically transplanted to the chest as a left breast DIEP flap. Her right breast was reduced in size and lifted at the same procedure.
Follow up photos are shown 9 months after surgery. She is ready for her final stage of reconstruction, which will involve left nipple reconstruction and abdominal scar revisions.
She has small “dog ears” at the ends of her abdominal incision, which are common when liposuction is not done at the same time as abdominal scar removal (as for a traditional abdominoplasty). These can be trimmed in an office procedure under local anesthesia at the same time as nipple-areola reconstruction.
She is also considering a 3D tattoo which will create the appearance of a three-dimensional nipple and areola with minimal downtime.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
