Before and after bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstructions in a 62 year old breast cancer survivor and BRCA gene positive woman. She previously had a left lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer followed by implant reconstruction. Once she was diagnosed with a new/recurrent left breast cancer and learned she was a carrier of the BRCA gene, she chose to have bilateral mastectomies and DIEP flap breast reconstructions.
Her left implant was removed, and bilateral nipple sparing mastectomies were performed at the same operation as her deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) free flap breast reconstructions. Both of her breasts were reconstructed slightly larger than her original breast size (as per her wishes) using skin and fat that microsurgically transplanted from her belly to her chest.
Two years later, she underwent free fat grafting to further contour her abdomen and flanks and bilateral nipple and areola tattoo to create more definition and improve the aesthetics of her reconstruction.
Follow up photos are shown three years after her DIEP flap reconstructions and six months after fat grafting and tattoo. Her areolas will gradually fade to a more natural hue. She is now cancer free and loves her “post-breast -cancer/recent-retiree body”!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
