Breast Reconstruction: Q&A
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DIEP Flap Surgery Best for Natural Breast Reconstruction Results?
There's a possibility I may need to have a mastectomy, so I have been looking into which breast reconstruction procedure would be best for giving me the most natural-looking new breasts. I read that the DIEP flap surgery is new and much more expensive than other breast reconstruction surgeries because it gives the best result. Is this true? I want to know which breast reconstruction procedure the doctors think is best?
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22 Doctor Answers |
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anon
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DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Natural Breast Reconstruction
DIEP Flaps are when ONLY skin and fat from your lower abdomen are used to reconstruct your breast. No muscle is taken like in the TRAM operation. By avoiding taking muscles, you preserve your core strength. DIEP flaps should be performed by surgeons experience in microsurgical breast reconstruction. DIEP flap breast reconstruction do create natural breasts. The other advantages of DIEP flap breast reconstruction are that the flap will not rupture like implants and will change with you...
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DIEP Flap breast reconstruction
A DIEP flap stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap. It is an evolution in technique from a traditional free TRAM flap. The main difference is the goal of sparing the muscle from the abdomen to decrease the likelihood of bulging or hernia in the abdomen after the procedure.
DIEP flaps for breast reconstruction are typically covered by your insurance provider. The cost issue arises when a surgeon does not participate with your insurance provider. The higher cost is due to the...
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DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction and Cost
First, breast reconstruction after mastectomy must be covered by your insurance thanks to a 1998 federal law. This is one procedure insurance companies can't successfully deny. So given the question regarding cost -- this should not be a self-pay cosmetic procedure.
Now to address your question regarding the DIEP flap. The DIEP flap utilizes the excess skin and fat that is normally thrown away in a cosmetic tummy tuck. It is like its predecessor, the TRAM flap that harvested the excess...
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Autologous tissue is most natural
In my San Francisco area practice I have been able to offer my patients a wide range of reconstructive options. I've had the opportunity to co-found a breast reconstruction program and found two microsurgical programs which primarily have focused on breast reconstruction.
The two basic categories of breast reconstruction include implant reconstruction (typically tissue expander followed by a permanent implant) and autologous tissue (using your own body's tissue to reconstruct your breast)...
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Natural Appearing Breasts with Added Benefits
You are absolutely right that a DIEP flap produces the closest tissue match to native breast tissue. Breast tissue primarily consists of skin and fat, as does the DIEP flap.
As far as cost, breast cancer reconstruction is covered by law under health insurance. So please do not base your surgical decision on cost. Most breast reconstruction surgeons can work with your insurance company to obtain coverage.
The primary benefit of the DIEP flap are the...
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Your own tissue is better than an implant usually
In general, using your own tissue makes for a more natural looking and feeling breast but at the expense of more scars and a much longer recovery than from implant reconstructions. This is especially true in radiated patients and in one sided reconstructions. Bilateral reconstructions without radiation can be performed adequately with implants.
The DIEP flap and the free TRAM flap are probably the "Cadilacs" of breast reconstruction both using the skin and fat of the lower abdomen that...
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DIEP FLAP SURGERY
A free flap breast reconstruction is more expensive than a pedicled TRAM or tissue expander- implant recosntruction. Some surgeons charge more for a perforator flap reconstruction than a free-Tram. I prefere autologous tissue reconstruction over a tissue expander and implant. I think it gives a more natural appearance and feel.
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DIEP flap can give a very natural look for breast reconstruction
When done properly, the DIEP flap can give a very natural look for your breast reconstruction. The surgery uses your own tissue and ages with you over time. If you gain weight, they get bigger; if you lose weight they get smaller. With successful surgery, you will not have to ever worry about getting an implant changed.
See a skilled plastic surgeon in your area who has extensive experience performing DIEP flap surgery. I am in Nashville, TN and have a greater than...
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Is DIEP flap the best method of breast reconstruction.
Unfortunately, the hype on the DIEP flap has never been proven in a scientific study. The TRAM, muscle sparing free TRAM, and DIEP are all basically the same operation along the same spectrum...transfer of the lower abdominal skin and fat. The difference is how much muscle is removed. The DIEP flap advocates claim worlds of difference between the DIEP and other methods of reconstruction. The truth is there has never been a study to show a signifcant difference in ability to...
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DIEP flap - excellent option for breast reconstruction
With the advent of microsurgical perforator flaps, this form of reconstruction has revolutionized plastic surgery. Along with them, the application in breast reconstruction has been tremendous. By the replacement of the skin and soft tissue that is removed during the mastectomy with viable, well-vascularized, excess skin and soft tissue from the lower abdomen, a beautiful breast reconstruction may be achieved that is completely your own tissue. This Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP)...
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