Before and after right breast reconstruction revision in a 63 year old breast cancer survivor. She previously had a right skin sparing mastectomy and insertion of a tissue expander that she had kept in place for 11 years.
She expressed "if this is as good as it gets, why bother with any more surgery?" (good question!). She originally was offered a TRAM flap for reconstruction when she inquired about using her own tissue but she did not want to sacrifice her abdominal muscles.
11 years later, she was thrilled to learn about the DIEP flap - which was not new but new to her! Her tissue expander that created a severe animation deformity upon chest muscle flexion was removed. Her lower abdominal skin and fat was transplanted to the chest as a DIEP flap.
Follow up photos are shown 2 years after surgery. She still hasn't committed to a right nipple and areola reconstruction, but perhaps in 11 years she'll be ready... ;)
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
