DIEP versus Implant (prepectoral with biological mesh) - 38 year old with 9 month old son.

Hi All,

I am new to this site and have read various threads but wanted to find out more about people’s personal experiences of the different breast reconstruction types.

I am 38 years old and have recently been diagnosed with high grade hormone receptive DCIS in the right breast. I have a 9 month old son which adds complexity in relation to recovery. I am a 38B/C in size but not particularly ‘full’ and a little droopy due to breast feeding my son until a few weeks ago.

Due to the extent of the DCIS the surgeon has said mastectomy is the only option. She believes this can be a skin sparing but is unsure if she can save the nipple. I am guessing that she probably won’t be able to.

I am going through what a lot of people on here are in terms for trying to decide what type of reconstruction to have (assuming all become available relatively soon in this COVID world)

I had convinced myself that implant was the way forward but I was very much focussing on the shorter term recovery because of my young son and not considering the longer term issues I.e. implant replacement in due course which due to my age means I am likely to need at least 1 or 2 further operations later in life due to how long implants last Irrespective of any complications. I have also not finished my family and therefore concerned about DIEP healing and pregnancy, which given my age I wouldn’t be able to wait that long to have another child.

So I am interested to hear about people’s experiences, good and bad, of prepectoral implant with biological mesh (on top of chest muscle rather than under) versus DIEP (using tummy tissue).

My main worries are:

COMPLICATIONS of each procedure and people’s experiences of these e.g. skin necrosis, fat necrosis generally. In the case of implants capsule contracture, loss of implant and rippling/kinking and infection. In the case of DIEP loss of flap, extent of numbness in tummy area. Ongoing long term pain generally for both procedures.

AESTHETICS of each procedure e.g. coolness, weight, sizing and shape of implant and in the case of DIEP how the tummy scar looks and feels and size/shape/feel of the breast. In both cases how does the symmetry compare and have you had to have further surgery to that or other breast for symmetry.

RECOVERY from each procedure. What in reality could you do after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc. How long is it before people returned to work?

Anyone who has experience of going though this with young children would also be of interest.

Sorry it’s rather a long post, I hope that some of you will be able to share your experiences.

Jenny