DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

DIEP flap breast reconstruction offers a natural-looking breast reconstruction using your own tissue.

Achieve Natural Breast Reconstruction with DIEP Flap Surgery at OrseckMD in Spartanburg or Simpsonville, SC.

Following a mastectomy, breast reconstruction can be a crucial step on the path to healing and regaining self-confidence. At Michael J. Orseck MD, we understand the importance of a natural-looking and long-lasting result. DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction offers a remarkable solution, utilizing your tissue to create beautiful, reconstructed breasts.

What Can DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Do For Me?

DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction is most effective in addressing the following concerns:

What is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction restores a natural, symmetrical appearance to the bosom, maintains body proportion, allows clothes to fit better, and most important of all, boosts self-confidence for women who have lost one or both breasts to mastectomy or who lack breasts due to a congenital or developmental abnormality.

Reconstructive breast surgery is an essential option for women who have undergone breast cancer treatment that includes the removal of breast tissue. Reconstruction can provide these patients with a sense of their return to health and well-being.

Explore a 3D visualization of the DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction procedure

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Who Is A Good Candidate For DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction?

Many women who have had mastectomies are excellent candidates for breast reconstructive surgery, provided they are in good health and have some extra fat and skin of their lower abdomen to be used for the reconstruction.

There are situations which make the DIEP Flap procedure more difficult, although not always impossible, to perform:

Previous tummy tuck or liposuction
Insufficient donor tissue (an abdomen that is too flat and tight)

In the event that you are not a candidate for the DIEP Flap procedure, it is possible for Dr. Orseck to perform a breast reconstruction using either alternative Flap procedures or implant-based techniques via the tissue expander method. Dr. Orseck will be happy to present all of the options that are available to you.

Regain Confidence and Embrace A Natural Approach to Breast Restoration at Michael J. Orseck MD.

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is a deeply personal journey. If you’re seeking a natural-looking and long-lasting option, DIEP flap breast reconstruction might be the right choice for you. This innovative procedure utilizes your own abdominal tissue to create a reconstructed breast, offering several advantages over traditional methods.

What Are The Benefits Of A DIEP Flap Procudure?

DIEP Flap surgery for breast reconstruction offers many benefits, including:

Deep inferior epigastric vessels that supply necessary blood are reattached to allow necessary blood flow to the replanted tissues, resulting in a more natural-looking and feeling breast.
Donor tissues taken from the abdominal wall are very similar to that found in breast tissue, which enhances the aesthetic outcome.
The rectus abdominis muscle in the abdomen is left intact, which reduces post-surgical pain and complications that pose higher risks than in other procedures.
Shortened recovery time and fewer long term effects.

How is the DIEP Flap Procedure performed?

The DIEP flap procedure is performed under general anesthesia and a hospital stay is less than 48 hours. While the DIEP flap procedure is major surgery, it is not as invasive as other surgeries. No body cavities are opened which lowers the risks normally associated with a more invasive surgery. Patients are monitored with a wireless signal that transmits directly to Dr. Orseck’s smartphone, allowing him to monitor the blood flow in your flap at all times!

During the surgery, an incision is made across the abdomen to reveal the underlying tissues. Tissues along with blood vessels are carefully harvested and prepared for relocation to the breast area. The abdominal incision is then closed, the flap tissue is relocated to the breast site and the blood vessels are reattached using microsurgery to return blood flow to the new breast. The newly-reconstructed breast is attached to the chest wall. After the incision is closed, sterile dressings are applied. After surgery, the blood flow to the new breast is carefully monitored with a specialized device.

Explore a 3D visualization of the DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction procedure.

What can I expect during DIEP Flap surgery recovery?

Recovery from the DIEP flap procedure is shorter and less painful as compared to similar procedures and most patients will be able to return to their normal activities within 4-6 weeks.

Following the surgery, you will go to a regular, private room. The next morning, you will be given a regular meal, allowed to walk the halls, and have your IV removed if you wish. You will be discharged early the following morning. The total length of stay after surgery is typically less than 48 hours. During this time, the nurses and Dr. Orseck continuously monitor the blood flow within the flap and assist with your daily needs.

After discharge, Dr. Orseck will arrange for a home nurse to visit you daily for approximately 3 days after surgery to answer any questions you may have.

Any scarring, tenderness, and redness will diminish in the following weeks and months. The new breast will look very much like your natural breast, but you will not feel the same sensations as with a natural breast.

Frequently Asked Questions About DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction & Procedure

Are there other breast reconstruction options?

In the event that a woman is not a candidate for the DIEP Flap procedure, a flap from the thigh (PAP) or buttock (GAP) may be used. Additionally, an alternative procedure called the tissue expander method which uses a saline implant which is then converted to a silicone implant is an option.

How long does the DIEP flap procedure take?

For one breast, a DIEP can take 3-4 hours. For both breasts, 6-7 hours.

Will I have nipples after DIEP flap surgery?

Sometimes, the general surgeon will remove the nipples at the time of mastectomy. Other times, it will be left intact, otherwise known a nipple sparing mastectomy. If your nipples are removed at the time of mastectomy, you will undergo nipple reconstruction at a separate operation 3-6 months later. This is essentially painless and only takes a few minutes to do. The pigmented part of the areola is tattooed for the final stage.

Will my insurance cover my DIEP flap reconstruction surgery?

Federal law requires insurance companies to pay for your breast reconstruction. Each insurance company has a different deductable and co-pay. Our insurance specialists will help you through this process.

How can I manage my drainage tubes?

Please watch this video for postoperative JP drain management. If you have specific questions, please call our office at 864-560-6717 to speak with a member of our clinical staff.

Implants vs. Natural Tissue with DIEP Flap

Breasts can be reconstructed naturally, using your own tissue, or by placing an implant to shape the breast. The all-natural method is the preferred type of breast reconstruction performed in the United States today. The ideal version for many women is the DIEP flap, which stands for deep inferior epigastric perforator. It is named after the main blood vessel that runs through the tissue used to reconstruct the breast.

What is the DIEP Flap Reconstruction Technique?

This technique reconstructs the breast using only your skin, fat, and blood vessels. The tissue is removed from the lower portion of the abdomen, between the waist and hips, and then transferred to the breast to create a new breast mound.

The DIEP is called a “free” flap because the tissue is completely detached from the belly and reattached to the chest area. Connecting the blood vessels from the abdominal tissue to the chest blood vessels is delicate work. It requires the use of a microscope during surgery, which is why DIEP is known as microsurgery.

Where can I learn more about DIEP Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

Click here to learn more about DIEP Breast Reconstruction and see if it’s right for you.