POSTED UNDER Breast Reconstruction Revision REVIEWS
I Love Who I Am Now, 57 and Feeling Great. Pensacola, FL
ORIGINAL POST
I actually had a DIEP Flap surgery in Sept 2015,...
WORTH IT
I actually had a DIEP Flap surgery in Sept 2015, 2 weeks ago I had a revision to one breast because the other decided it had a mind of its own and shrink due to radiation treatment I had the year before, so I had the one breast reduced just a little bit, he suck a little fat out of same areas and put it in other areas. I could have left it, but I had been through so much in the past couple of years, I deserved to feel whole again, I deserved to feel like a women again. I would do it all over again if I had to. That is if Dr. Brown did it. I had my surgery on a Thursday and I went back to work on Tuesday. I will post pictures when all is healed. My last step is tattoos........ I feel so good and the best part is, I look really good.
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Replies (6)
June 26, 2016
You look great!
Did you have your radiation treatments after the DIEP surgery?
I am currently looking into having a DIEP. I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders June 2015, followed by 16 chemo, 28 radiation and 49 HyberBaric Oxygen. Radiation left me badly blistered internally, broke down the skin and left me with a three inch hole in my chest. I had to have that TE removed/excise skin and an additional surgery to excise more skin. I now have about a one inch hole. I haven't felt comfortable with the mainstream TRAM option because it takes your lower abdominal muscles. The DIEP is similar but is a free flap and leaves the abdominal muscles. The blood vessels are dissected from the muscle and are reattached to the chest area by a micro surgeon.
I've only run into women who have told me their horror stories with the TRAM, I haven't talked to anyone who has had the DIEP. I guess since it is still pretty new and it takes a skilled micro surgeon to perform it. I would appreciate it if you could share your experience with the actual DIEP surgery and the recovery you experienced.
Did you have your radiation treatments after the DIEP surgery?
I am currently looking into having a DIEP. I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders June 2015, followed by 16 chemo, 28 radiation and 49 HyberBaric Oxygen. Radiation left me badly blistered internally, broke down the skin and left me with a three inch hole in my chest. I had to have that TE removed/excise skin and an additional surgery to excise more skin. I now have about a one inch hole. I haven't felt comfortable with the mainstream TRAM option because it takes your lower abdominal muscles. The DIEP is similar but is a free flap and leaves the abdominal muscles. The blood vessels are dissected from the muscle and are reattached to the chest area by a micro surgeon.
I've only run into women who have told me their horror stories with the TRAM, I haven't talked to anyone who has had the DIEP. I guess since it is still pretty new and it takes a skilled micro surgeon to perform it. I would appreciate it if you could share your experience with the actual DIEP surgery and the recovery you experienced.
June 26, 2016
Your journey us very similar to mine. My radiation was before my DIEP flap. I will write you more details later when I get home. I'm on my phone right now.
June 27, 2016
I did have radiation but it wasn't till after I had 3 different chemo's, the first was I was allergic to, the second one I was allergic to the nuelasta (blood booster) went in for my bilateral mastectomy only to find out the cancer was in my chest wall, my oncologist to my case to the tumor board and they came up with anther kind of chemo that I completed 14 of my 17 treatment and developed pneumonia and the flu so he stopped and future chemo and we waited a month and on to radiation for 8 weeks, 6 months after my radiation I started breast reconstruction and had the tissue expanders put in, 3 weeks later I developed 3 very mad infection that landed me on y death bed fighting for my life, I was in the hospital for a month when I got out I did 25 Hyper Baric Oxygen treatments leaving my skin corrosive and hard, I couldn't lift my arm I wasn't sleeping because of the pain, As a courtesy I agreed to meet with Dr. Ben Brown and in fact I almost canceled my appointment. I had it in my head that this was a waste of my time and I really didn't want to go through the terror of a surgery gone bad. When I left Dr. Browns I was so impressed about his education, all of his accolades that I booked my Diep Flap Surgery. Yes, it was painful but the first week was the worst. I have absolutely no regrets, I sleep through the night I am not in any pain, I can lift my arms straight up in the air, my oncologist can't believe how good I look and feel. If this is something that you are contemplating and you live in the Pensacola area go see him you will not be sorry. If you don't live in the area become a snow bird for a few months you will not be sorry. I hope that helped. Please keep me posted.
June 27, 2016
You are lucky to have come thru all that ...alive... Don't know if you read my story but my cancer was found due to extreme dermetitis on my nipple resulting in diagnostic mamo and other tests. First was the partial masectomy followed by er visit with multiple hematoma's. Radiation, then went for a reduction on opposite side only to find there was cancer there too.. :( diep was 16 hrs (surgeon was not board certified and I almost died.. Went thru therapy for nightmares, waking up with wrists tied to rails and still intubated. Please everyone, do your research!!
June 27, 2016
your breasts look great! and so does the belly! I am sure they will look great in a shirt! good luck
UPDATED FROM t.melia
28 days post
Before & After Pictures
I wanted everyone interested in the DIEP flap to see my before and after pictures. I hope they are helpful to someone wanting to feel better about themselves and to enjoy their life to it's fullest.
Replies (17)
June 24, 2016
Hi how do they do this surgery as I havnt heard of it before
June 24, 2016
They actually use your own tissue your lower abdomen less chance of infection and rejection. So all the fat that I am holding is now my breast
June 25, 2016
No not really, My tissue was so corrosive from my first attempt with breast reconstruction, I was in so much pain, I was sleeping, I was becoming more and more limited in the use of my right arm. Since the surgery I can lift both my arms over my head, I am sleeping through the night and I am not in pain any more. This is the best thing that could have happened to me. My family and friends kept telling me you look fine without breast your alive, why would you put your self through this. I told them it wasn't about the breast it was all about the pain. Now I'm glad I have breast, and no pain. My next step is tattoo's. Are you considering something like this?
June 25, 2016
I think you are so brave my friend ! No I'm not that brave but who knows I may change my mind ! Good on you with your journey and God bless you !
June 24, 2016
That looks great , I was 56 when I started (wrong surgeon) have had 7 surgeries. Now I will be 61, the non radiated breast got bigger again, my abdomen scars ugly, going to see what can be done and see about tattooing when finished.
June 24, 2016
If you have gotten more then one reply I sorry. I had no intention of ever having any more surgery. I met with Dr Brown as courtesy. It was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I was in so much pain before I had this surgery. Now I feel so good. Call him and make an appointment and just meet with him you will not be sorry 850-476-3223.
June 24, 2016
I would but I am in New Jersey :( I have two different flaps..free/diep, they look nothing like yours. I haven't even been in a bathing suit in 5 years because of the indentation scar where the doner from abdomen was.
June 24, 2016
I am so sorry that your outcome isn't to your liking. If you can afford to come down and meet with him you would not regret it. Be a snow bird and rent a place for a couple of months on the beach. Rent down here are minimal compared to the North East. I grow up on Long Island and still have family in the New York area so I do know how expensive it is up there for you. If I can help in any way I sure will.
June 24, 2016
Thank you so much, it has been a roller coaster emotionally. My last docter did his best but only what he absolutly had to, leaving other things undone. There is a new surgeon at University of Penn I am going to see , they also have tattoo artist there.
June 24, 2016
Just don't settle because he is closer to home. You could call Dr. Brown and see if you couldn't send pictures or records and see if this is something he would even be willing to take on. All these surgeries are very painful and I would hate to think anyone would go through this and not have favorable results. Keep me updated.
June 24, 2016
Don't worry, I will not make a decision unless the doctor is confident he can fix the problems, and I am confident in his abilities. I wasn't going to go with nipples because of my age but..I'll keep you posted.
June 24, 2016
Hi Kim, for some reason the post that I am sending you aren't posting so here I go again. If you see the first picture of me holding all that fat in my hands, well that is now my breast. I didn't hear of this before either and Dr. Brown is the doctor in the area that does this surgery. As a courtesy I agreed to meet with Dr. Brown. Going in to my appointment I had my mind made up that I was not going to have any surgery. After I met with him I was convinced that this was the best thing for me. He took his time and explained everything I needed to know and never made me feel rushed and answered all my questions.
Replies (1)
June 24, 2016
Hi, your pictures are amazing, in addition to the diep did they do a tummy tuck or any other additional plastic procedures? How many surgeries did you have for the reconstruction?
Thanks for sharing your experience! Do you have any photos to share? Our community especially loves seeing photos from before, during, and after — a realistic look at what they can expect. Photos grab the attention of the community and encourage more support for you, too.