DIEP flap

[witchy1969woman]

I'm considering doing this type of reconstruction surgery instead of implants, as I'm quite large breasted and it would feel much more natural I think. Does it? Do the drains hurt while in? While being taken out? Honestly, another reason the DIEP was chosen is I've recently lost 70 pounds (purposely) and that belly flap needs to go. Is this vain or has anyone else done this??

[frsq]

I had this procedure done about 4 years ago. The drains did not hurt while in or when they were taken out. I had 6 of them - 3 on each side - and used an elastic "belt" to keep them in place. Only time they were a nuisance was during bathing, when I "hooked" them up to a cord around my neck (like a long necklace) to keep them out of the way.

While every surgery is unique, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about some of the complications I had following this surgery.

1) Part of the tissue on my right breast began to die. The surgeon debreeded the necrotic tissue a few times, but shortly, I needed a wound vac to be "installed" to help solve the problem. The unit had to be attached 24/7 and that was difficult because it was bulky. A nurse needed to come every other day to change the dressing. Ultimately, I ended up running a high fever from infection, which put me back in the hospital for 3 weeks.

2) Part of the abdominal incision opened, and that needed to be "packed" by the nurse on her visits. BTW, I don't know whether the following is "normal" or not, but the abdominal incision was so tight, I had difficulty sitting normally for at least 6 months.

3) Tho I used a plastic surgeon with an excellent reputation for this procedure, he didn't listen to what I wanted and made the breasts much too large.

I don't mean to alarm you - I'm sure there are plenty of women who have had this procedure without the problems I had - but doctors don't really talk about possible complications, and so I really wasn't prepared for what happened to me. Hopefully this info will give you some additional things to consider as you weigh the pros and cons of the various reconstruction options.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

[witchy1969woman in reply to frsq]

Thank you. I've had MRSA so I indeed know about "packing" wounds. I had a public health nurse 5 days a week for 5 weeks. My surgeon is very good discussing all the possible side effects. Thank you for your reply.

[Jennyannk73 in reply to frsq]

This sounds familiar.... mine was a yearlong nightmare. I hope yours didn't take as long to heal because it is truly torture! My surgeon seemed really nice......up until it went wrong. Then he tried to shift blame to everyone else including me! All I wanted was to get better. I understood things could go wrong. He was just worried about being sued. I probably should have in retrospect!

[Melzywelzy]

It was the best thing I ever did. I love it. I just finished with it last weekend for the tattoo. It was a hard stay for me in the hospital because I like to be up and around but was in bed rest for three days in ICU. That was to make sure no tissues die off. I lost weight and it grew with me. It feels just like my natural breast.

[witchy1969woman in reply to Melzywelzy]

Thank you for your reply.

[Nmartinez15]

I wanted that surgery instead of implants. My implants are so uncomfortable and hurt all the time. I am getting another surgery to remove them for very small one. I cant get DIEP bc I am only 131 pounds and not have enough fat. 😔

[witchy1969woman]

I'm sorry your current implants are hurting you and you need to go through another surgery. I've got plenty of fat, just lost 70 pounds and wear a DD/DDD and would like to get reduced to a solid C cup.

[Jennyannk73]

I did what you described and ended up with a terrible infection with necrosis.. both my right breast and belly opened back up and had to be packed....then wound vac'drepeatedly but breast kept tunneling and wouldn't heal. Was turned over to a wound care clinic. My belly wound made me cry and scream twice a day during dressing changes. It was an awful thing to go through. They tried skin grafts and embryonic cell grafts...but still wouldn't heal. All in all it was over a YEAR tied to a wound vac and several reoperations and an eventual latissmus dorsi flap that got the breast wound to finally close. The end result is deformity. I look terrible... like a ruined patchwork quilt that half melted in the heat. I was told by the great plastic surgeon that finally did the latissmus dorsi flap to close the wound and end the suffering , that due to my weight loss I was a poor candidate for the first operation and that it should not have been offered by the first surgeon. Yours might very well go better, but I would at least get a second opinion. Not trying to scare you but if you need a tummy tuck you can always get one. You just dont want to be dealing with them both at once. For me, I wish I had just remained flat. Hope this helps at least give you some considerations about how it doesn't always end up with the results hoped for.

[frsq in reply to Jennyannk73]

My experience was horrible - yours sounds even worse. I'm so sorry. I didn't get into it in my response to witchywoman, but as a result of complications during my re-hospitalization, I lost a great deal of kidney function and they almost put me on dialysis. This is a problem I will be dealing with for the rest of my life. I probably should have sued someone, but I was so weakened by the complications that I couldn't even think about it.

[witchy1969woman]

I've decided to go with the implants instead of flap surgery. My DMX is day after tomorrow, the 4th. I've also got to get inguinal node biopsy immediately before surgery for suspicious abnormalities it those lymphnodes. They found abnormalities in both my inguinal (groin) and cervical (throat/neck)nodes.