Before and after post-mastectomy “delayed” right breast reconstruction with the DIEP flap and balancing breast reduction and lift of the left breast in a 44 year old breast cancer survivor. She had been treated for breast cancer 10 years previously and incredibly was never offered breast reconstruction! (Her Oncologist did not know her options and unfortunately did not educate himself).
She found us through an internet search. At that time, the DIEP flap and using abdominal skin and fat to make a new breast was not well-known or offered in many centers. Thankfully, she advocated for herself and didn’t accept “you should just be happy to be alive” – she wanted to THRIVE!
Her reconstruction involved microvascular transplantation of lower abdominal skin and fat as a “deep inferior epigastric artery perforator” (DIEP) free flap to create a new breast on the right side. Her left breast was reduced and lifted to best match the other side. Nipple and areola reconstruction was done 6 months later using the local flap technique for nipple reconstruction and medical tattoo for the areola.
Follow up photos are shown 8 months after her DIEP flap reconstruction and 2 months after nipple-areola reconstruction.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
