dIep surgery

[sparkle1234]

Hi I'm frances.thinking about DIEP surgery.Anyone had it done.Interested in all stories good and bad.

[Gracie66]

Hi Frances. I had mastectomy and Diep flap surgery (tummy tissue) a year ago. Was best choice for me and all went well. I had all done on one day. It's a long surgery and there are a few days afterward of having to lie in bed with heat because you need to keep the blood vessels open while they knit together in the breast. It all depends what you want and your own personal situation. Recovery is longer and there is a large scar, aside from the breast scars across the lower abdomen with the possibility of further small day surgery to tidy up the sides of that scar later on. I am at the moment waiting for that extra surgery. overall I'm happy with the healing and the way everything looks.

It's a big decision. So think of all the options and if you want to ask me anything feel free.

G

[sparkle1234 in reply to Gracie66]

Thanks for replying.had mastectomy jan14 and worried at 62 I may be putting my body through more than it should.do not want surgery involving muscle removal so will consider.how long on hospital and before returning to work

[Gracie66 in reply to sparkle1234]

I was 7 days in hospital. But I had all done at once. I'm not sure how it goes if you have em done separately. You benefit from getting rid of annoying lower tummy paunch that's v hard to shift with any diet!!😎. I lost a lot of weight pretty diagnosis but that part was still an annoyance. Because stomach muscles are not cut the recovery on the abdominal scar is quicker than you would think and quicker than for the likes of cesarean as really it's only a flesh wound, albeit a big one. I would say go with your instinct. An implant worked for Sarah. It can be just as effective and it depends very much and your own personal feeling.. I also agonised over the choices but at the time thought I was going to have to have radium and a suggestion was if I had mastectomy and implants and then radium that I may have to come back and get the implant redone as radium tends to make implants go hard and might not be not as successful the second time etc etc.. so this influenced my decision greatly thinking if I had my own body flesh and I had to have more treatments that it would be better for me..

[sarah-21]

Hi. I was told that I was suitable to have all 3 types of reconstruction - implants, tram or diep ( size 12 bust 34C) but surgeon said could do a good job with just implants and for me "the additional pain/trauma/recovery of tram/ diep wouldn't be worth the gain" ( his words - which surprised me at the time as his message seemed to be diiep/ tram so invasive). I had mastectomy with reconstruction simultaneously with implant plus smaller implant into unaffected breast for symmetry. I know not everyone suitable for implants depending on body shape/ size but I am pleased with outcome- symmetry is good so don't need more surgery and no additional scars ( small one under unaffected breast). Hope this helps a bit, I agonised for several weeks over choice but eventually trusted surgeon's advice and pleased I did. Good luck with surgery whatever you decide.

[sparkle1234]

Thanks .

[biddenden_sue]

I had chemo first, starting in Dec 13 then a full mastectomy and lymph node removal on left side, then radiotherapy for 15 days, ending July 14. Opted for DIEP and am finally having it done in 2 weeks time (Thur 25th). They said it would have to be 12 months after my rads, but then the waiting list kicks in, so it's going to be 25 months after them!

I've been told I'll be in hospital for 4 days, I can't drive for 6 weeks, and I am likely to need 6-12 weeks off work. I'm 50 so I wanted my body rebuilt, but if I were a decade or two older, I probably would have settled for an easier option.

[sparkle1234 in reply to biddenden_sue]

Good luck for the 25th.What a long wait . I am still thinking of going the same way too.

[Dmhaynes in reply to biddenden_sue]

Hi I'm in a similar situation. I had total mastectomy in June 2014 with a temporary implant put in. Currently on the waiting list for the DIEP surgery which, fingers crossed, will be soon. It will be great to feel I can draw a line under all the surgery xx

[biddenden_sue]

Some people wait much longer! It's a massive operation, and you are in theatre for at least 8 hours, so they insist that you must get your BMI down to under 30 at most hospitals. This can prove very hard, especially if you're on Tamoxifen, which causes weight gain.

[Maxrob]

I had diep reconstruction with mastectomy 2 years ago age 46. Surgery took 6 hours and I was home on 4th day.

My abdominal wound took a long time to heal and was more troublesome than the reconstruction. Still a splodgy scar.

For me it was this reconstruction or none- not suitable for implants and using latissimus dorsi not option due to occupation/ sport.

Recovery does take time but I thought it was worth it.

[Moirs1964]

I had a DIEP reconstruction in March 2015, 10 months after my mastectomy and my advice to you is make sure you have an excellent surgeon. Do all the research you can and if possible try and meet in person some people who have had this type of surgery with your chosen surgeon. I was 51 and was not suitable to any other type of reconstruction due to lots of complications during chemo. I tried for those 10 months just living with the prosthesis but realised I would never be able to wear a backless dress or proper swimsuit again so went with the reconstruction. It is a big big operation and I'm still healing (scars). My surgeon was not that good but I only had 1 to choose from where I live. But having said all this I did get back a lot of my confidence and under clothes it looks amazing and moves and feels exactly like a real breast - naked is another story!!! But on the whole I'm just very happy to be alive and healthy...Good luck with your decision...and pm me anytime if you want more info.

[Nixh]

Hi Francis,

I intended to have a bilateral diep last August. (High risk of reoccurrence due to family history so have been ok'd for having other boob removed) I met the plastic surgeon, was given the instructions to do the 100 sit ups a day to strengthen muscles in tummy :o{..

Unfortunately found one node involved after SNB which meant needed chemo and probably needed radiotherapy after my mastectomy, in the end it was my choice whether to have the radio but as been through chemo wanted to do all I could so went for it. I was then told had to wait for skin to recover after radio so had to wait at least 6 months...

Well six months is nearly up and after a bit of "normal" (or as normal as we can get after this fun journey!)... I've changed my mind.... really don't want to go through the recovery tbh.

I play netball, and have been thoroughly enjoying playing again .. it's like a breath of fresh air for me and takes mind of off of everything. For me it would be a step backwards, being incapacitated for a long period. The stomach bit worries me most I think, a lady on the Macmillan forum had hell with her stomach wound.

... so it's implants for me, living with the temp expander hasn't been too bad and i know the implants will be more comfortable than that so that's fine by me. Also won't be wearing a bikini in the near future so am happy...

Sorry that was a bit long winded, what I wanted to basically say is if you're happy with a long recovery and the have looked into all the pros and cons then go for it. The photos I saw were amazing, so realistic and if i'd had my reconstruction straight after my mx i'd have gone for it and not looked back..

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Nix xx