Before and after bilateral prophylactic mastectomies and immediate reconstruction with the DIEP flap in a 40-year-old BRCA gene positive woman and a mother of twins. She chose to have preventative risk-reducing mastectomies and reconstruction using her own tissue from her abdomen.
A combined breast cancer and reconstructive microsurgery case was performed, with our patient staying in the hospital for a week afterward to ensure smooth, complication-free healing. She took six weeks off work and resumed unrestricted exercise such as golf at two months after surgery.
A second stage left breast lift (mastopexy) moved the nipple and areola up to a higher and more symmetric position, together with free fat grafting from the abdomen and flanks to the flaps. Follow up photos are shown 9 months after her DIEP flaps.
Note the original position of a bright red birthmark to the left of her umbilicus in the preoperative images. Because all the skin and fat below this area has been used to create two new breast reconstructions via the DIEP flap, the birthmark is now located much lower, just above her lower abdominal donor site scar. Her scars will continue to mature over the next year.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
