Can you have implants with a diep flap?

Thank you for your queation and I am happy to hear that you are following up to start your reconstruction.  You can have implants placed after your diep flap. This is generally done months after the procedure.  Be patient as you have many options and once you see a board certified plastic surgeon, he or she will give you lots of options some which also include how to best match you since you still have a natural Breast on the opposite side. Best of luck. 

Thank you for your question.Yes, a DIEP flap can have an implant underneath. However, this is not typically done at the same time. It is done several months after, once the DIEP has healed and settled. If you need more volume, another option is a TUG flap (transverse upper gracilis flap) or a gluteal flap. These can also be done in conjunction with a DIEP flap or alone.Regards,Manish Champaneria, MD

Although an implant can be placed under a DIEP flap, I prefer to wait at least 6 months before considering this, such that the new tissue flap has acquired new peripheral vascular in growth and is not completely dependent of the main pedicle blood supply.I would encourage you to visit with 3 plastic surgeons who specialize in breast reconstruction, especially those proficient in tissue reconstruction.   You may be a candidate for another type of tissue reconstruction from your inner thigh or buttocks or a combination.If no other alternatives, you could undergo fat grafting into your diep flap around 3 months to add volume and if still lacking, then place the implant around 6 months.

Yes you can have an implant placed after a DIEP reconstruction. There is also a possibility doing stacked DIEPs meaning using both tissue from the right and left side of the abdomen to build your breast or another is using tissues from your buttock region or inner thigh.

If you need to have a DIEP flap you don't need to travel to Vanderbilt.  Many of the busiest DIEP flap surgeons live in Austin, San Antonio and Houston so there is no need to leave the state of Texas.  Your request is reasonable but requires an in person examination.  There are several aspects of the survey that make use of almost the entire abdomen for a unilateral (one sided reconstruction) for better matches to the normal breast on the other side.