Before and after left DIEP flap breast reconstruction and secondary bilateral placement of implants in a 34-year-old breast cancer survivor. She had previously had a left non-skin-sparing mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Since her left chest skin was firm, fibrotic (full of scar tissue) and contracted, breast reconstruction using her own tissue was the preferred method. She had enough tummy tissue to reconstruct her left breast – therefore, a left breast DIEP flap was planned.
After surgery, she did some soul searching and decided that her ultimate goal for her breasts was to be fuller and rounder. Smooth round permanent, postoperatively adjustable breast implants were placed at a secondary procedure, together with left nipple reconstruction using the local flap technique and left areola tattoo.
Unfortunately, her left nipple reconstruction did not heal well – likely due to past radiation damage – and it healed with a flat contour. She had a history of healing with hypertrophic scars, as evidenced by her right chest chemo port scar and scars from her DIEP flap procedure. She was committed to long-term scar therapy and allowing her body to heal at its own pace.
Follow up photos are shown a year and a half after surgery. She is a candidate for nipple reconstruction by the right-to-left “nipple sharing” technique if she wishes in the future, or three-dimensional paramedical tattoo.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
