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Posted underBreast Reconstruction with DIEP Flap q&a

18 months post op , what could be causing sharp and transient DIEP donor site pain?

Eclectic227888Jul 23, 2024
It has been 18 months since my SMX with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. I had a revision of the donor site because it was extremely lumpy. Now it's just slightly lumpy (before it was weird-looking). However, I am now having occasional pains along the scar, mostly sharp and transient. Is that from the nerves regenerating or could it be something else?

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Dr. David Branch, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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Answered on Nov 19, 2024
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Ferit Demirkan, MD

The good thing about DIEP flap is the preservation of all the abdominal muscles and fascia when compared to a TRAM flap, which makes abdominal hernias less likely. Usually we do not need a fascial tightening during a regular DIEP surgery. But if you had had a rectus diastasis and it was repaired...

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Ryan Rebowe, MD

Issues with the abdominal donor site in the DIEP procedure are typically more likely in higher BMI patients. Although there may be a chance for an abdominal bulge or protrusion in a low BMI individual, it is not likely.

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Danielle Dumestre, MD

Hi Joylmman, DIEP flap reconstruction doesn't typically result in substantial loss of body weight, as the fatty tissue from the belly is just repurposed to recreate the breasts. That being said, your contour can look amazing, given the fat is moved away the belly up to the breasts, and...

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