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?

5 answers to “DIEP flap surgery best for natural...”

A: DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction and Cost

By C. Bob Basu, MD - Houston Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Your own tissue is better than an implant usually

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Autologous tissue is most natural

By Steven H. Williams, MD - Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Advantages of a DEIP flap for breast reconstruction

By Raffy Karamanoukian, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

TRAM flaps are commonly used for breast reconstruction. TRAM stands for 'Transverse Rectus Abdominis Muscle,' wherein the abdominal muscle and overlying fat to reconstruct the breast. A more advanced technique is to preserve the muscle and use only the overlying fat of the abdomen using a DIEP flap (Deep... more

A: DIEP FLAP SURGERY

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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... more