Before and after unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction in a 63 year old woman with left breast cancer. After a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, she required a completion mastectomy for an ongoing area of concern in her left breast.
Her left breast was reconstructed by using skin and fat from her abdomen. The DIEP flap is the best way to match a natural breast on the other side. Her breast surgeon was not able to save her left nipple. Her aesthetic goal was to be reconstructed slightly smaller than her current breast size, with a lift. She was not interested in a preventative mastectomy on the right.
A breast lift was performed on both sides, and her breast tissue on the left was replaced with skin and fat from her tummy. A left nipple and areola reconstruction was performed as a secondary outpatient procedure. It is usually recommended that both areolas are pigmented with tattoo for the best symmetry – note the difference between the bright tattoo on the left and her pale pink areola on the right.
Follow up images are shown two years after her DIEP flap and six months after her nipple reconstruction.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
