Before and after bilateral mastectomies and immediate DIEP flap breast reconstruction with immediate mastopexy and free nipple-areolar complex auto-grafts in a 43-year-old woman with breast cancer.
She had right-sided breast cancer but chose to have a double mastectomy due to her young age. Her aesthetic goal for breast reconstruction was to be slightly smaller and lifted than her preoperative breast size and shape.
The mastectomies were performed using a breast reduction and lift incision. Skin and fat was microsurgically transplanted from her lower abdomen as DIEP flap to her chest using microvascular techniques. A breast lift closure reduced excess skin from her breasts and achieved a mastopexy effect.
Her nipples and areolas were saved and reapplied higher up on the breast mound as free nipple-areolar auto-grafts. After nipple-areolar grafts, the color of the areola often ends up a little lighter – therefore, medical tattoo was used to brighten and darken the areolas and conceal some of the scars.
Follow up photos are shown 2 years after surgery. Although she has not had children, she effectively had a tummy tuck, and she endearingly refers to this surgery her “I beat cancer makeover”!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
