Before and after bilateral mastectomies and immediate reconstruction with the DIEP flap in a 60 year old woman with breast cancer. Her goal was to be reconstructed slightly smaller than her original breast size. She also wouldn’t mind having a breast lift!
Bilateral mastectomies were designed through a breast reduction/lift pattern. Her lower abdominal skin and fat was microsurgically transplanted to her chest to reconstruct her breasts. The skin was “deepithelialized” (removed) and buried under her own breast skin. No “skin paddle” (patch of skin left showing) is required.
Her nipples and areolas were reapplied higher on her breasts as free nipple-areola grafts. It is common that grafts heal slightly lighter in pigmentation than their original color. She had medical tattoo of her nipples and areolas a year after surgery to brighten their color and free fat grafting to add volume to the top of her breasts and to contour her donor site.
Follow up photos are shown three years after surgery. She is the best looking 63 year old that she knows!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
