DIEP Flap Reconstruction

Bramble22

Hi B

I haven't yet but will be DIEPping so later in year.  You may want to have a look at the discussion thread "surgery chat" as there may be some who have had what you will be having and can give you their views.

From those I've come across I havne't found anyone who had issues or complications, all seem happy with operation & results.

I've finished chemo, thank heavens, it wasn't too bad....

Sam X

Hi Bramble22

I had delayed diep reconstruction so my surgery would be slightly different to yours - I had mine seven weeks ago and went back to work last week. 

I think you need to be aware that the surgery can fail, very rare but can , and also necrosis of the skin or the new fatty tissue can occur , the skin not as common but the fatty tissue more so. I currently have a very hard circular lump to the side of my new breast, no one would know looking at it , I see my surgeon again next week for him to look at it and see if any further surgery is needed. 

I have found the whole process very doable , and would most definitely do it again (I previously had an implant) but don’t try and compare yourself against others , we are all individual and what one person can deal with easily another person can’t. 

best wishes with your surgery

Jo x 

Thanks Sam and Jo, much appreciated! 
All the way from the beginning a DIEP reconstruction is what I’ve been hoping for, we will see what it brings!

Glad to hear chemo is finished Sam, I’m finished this week too! Bx

Hi

I had immediate reconstruction on one side by DIEP 2 years ago. It was text book op - took about 7 hours and I was only in hospital for 4 nights. During this time you are very closely monitored - every hour for the first 24 hours then every 2 hours for the next then every 4 for the next 24 hours etc so even though I had my own room I didn't get much sleep. I had 3 drains all of which came out prior to discharge which I was very pleased about as they are a real nuisance. To begin with it is very difficult to do things and I was also bent double from the abdominal surgery for what seemed like ages. The abdominal surgery is the worst bit and you will have quite a long surgical scar from over hip to over hip, plus a new tummy button. All my scars have now faded to just a white line but it does take quite a long time. At home after the operation I did need quite a bit of help but improved considerably each week. When I came out of hospital, my husband took 3 days off work and then it was the Xmas school holidays and my teenage daughter did my bidding. To begin with I also slept with a V pillow at my back and pillows under my knees - these were all discarded gradually. I was sent home from hospital with a bag of goodies including some very strong pain killers which I did use from time to time (sometimes in the evening) but most of the time just took paracetamol. (But you need to keep on top of it and take regularly to begin with) I felt as if I had a huge elastic band round my middle everything was incredibly tight and could only eat small portions and as a result lost weight in other areas!!! I also have (still) a vey flat tummy!!! I was very tired for ages after the operation - probably a mixture of the aneasthetic and build up of tension (I was in complete fear at the time). The recovery is lengthy and you have to be patient but so long as you are prepared to just go with it for a few weeks (and do all your exercises you will be given) things do improve amazingly rapidly. I went back to driving as soon as allowed at 6 weeks post op and it was completely fine. You will need a good supportive post op bra and good support knickers which are worn 24/7 post op for a period of time. I can't remember exactly how long now but they really helped. Also, keep both as you will need again if you decide to have some lipo modelling re shape on your new boob. 

My new boob is warm and soft and a bra or a bikini you would have absolutely no idea what has happened.  Since I have had nipple reconstruction and tattooing plus some lip modelling if I was changing and you briefly saw my new boob you also wouldn't take much notice of it. My new boob matches my other one and droops in the same way. It is very natural in both looks and feeling - I feel pretty normal again. If you can put up with the hassle of the operation and be patient re your recovery it is certainly worth it. If there is anything specific you would like to ask, please do so -  it it is a big op. I hope this has helped a little. Good luck....XXXxx

Moresleep

Please can I ask
- how long did it take post surgery to finish all the work on the reconstructed boob
- did you use the NHS (as I am looking to go private)?
- did you need symmetry surgery on the good boob and how many lipo adjustments did you need?
- was there anything else you needed re tidy ups post the actual DIEP reconstruction?

Thanks
Sam

Moresleep what a fantastic and informative post, thank you so much!! Glad to hear it all went well for you. I’m going for immediate reconstruction too and also a reduction on the other side. Three surgeons working together and I’m told this should reduce surgery time to around six and a half hours. My only concern is the abdominal surgery specifically recovery times.Hopefully my op will be as successful as yours. Thanks again for the info, really much appreciated! Bx

Hi Yorkshire defector,

I am still waiting for another bit of lip modelling - no idea when. I had my first lip modelling and nipple reconstruction around 10 months after my DEIP. I was put on the waiting list for it at my 3 or 4 month post op appointment. It takes at least 3 months for things to settle down and only then they can see if anything else needs to be done. You don't have to have any tweaking done if you can't face it. In fact, I did a bikini holiday without it and you wouldn't know. However, I wanted nipple reconstruction and they did the other at the same time. I had it done as day surgery although I was booked in for a bed overnight but I'm (so far) been bright eyed and bushy tailed after an anaesthetic and was determined to go home ASAP so went home.

It was NHS hence the waiting times as now non urgent.

They initially talked about the possibility of symmetry surgery prior to my Diep but at my 3-4 appointment post op all thought it was a good match (which it is) and so left the other one alone.  

So far I have had one lip modelling but they like to do a little at time so Im having another one. They are going to take a little off the side and also put a little where the new boob meets the chest wall at the top. It's all small tweaks and to be honest not that noticeable but they pointed it out and I'm happy to go along.

You need to think about scar correction. When I was waiting in day surgery re my last tweaking, I was talking to the lady who had had the same op as me with the same surgeon and was having further work done, same as me. She was having a reduction on the other side and was having scar reduction on her abdomen surgery so there could easily be a few post Diep adjustments... if you want to go ahead.

Hope this helpsXXxxx

Hi Bramble,

For me, the abdominal surgery is the worst bit by far. It took me ages to straighten up. I had awful back ache from stooping. To help, I put a stool in the bathroom to sit on to clean my teeth etc so I didn't have to stand. I also held my daughter's shoulders (she was just the right height) and she would take the strain and take me around the house to help my poor back. It must have looked really comical but she was a huge support (literally). I went up and down stairs sideways holding on to the bannister one step at a time. (imagine little old lady) I also used Volerol (wrong spelling???) on my back muscles. It all definitely helped. It sounds horrendous but you do cope and others haven't mentioned this being an issue so I may have just been unfortunate in this respect. But, it does pass as your skin stretches. After 6 weeks (please double check time period) I massaged my scars with Bio Oil and that also helped. Xxxxx 

How long do you reckon it took you before you were able to stand upright for a length of time? Its just that I sing in 2 bands and would need to stand up, sing loud and be walking around for about 2 hours. It would help to have a rough idea of how realistic a time I give myself before trying to book gigs really.

Thanks, and thanks for the info you're providing, it's really helpful as mines on 28th Feb having one mastectomy and immediate reconstruction via DIEP and the other reduced at the same time. 

Sam xxx

Hi ollies41

I remember 6 weeks post op being able to walk OK but not much slower than usual and, I think, fairly straight. I do remember with mine being over the colder months by abdominal surgery site hurt if I went out in the cold. Once I was reasonably mobile walking really helped - I was told it helps to get the circulation going and all this aids healing. You may be able to straighten up much quicker than me but until you have the op you won't know. I was also exhausted for months afterward but, everyone reacts differently and your experience may be very different. However, don't expect too much from yourself for the first few weeks post op and then slowly build things up again. It's a big operation. I hope this helps a bit....Xxxx