Having a mastectomy can be an emotionally overwhelming experience. Understanding your options for breast reconstruction before the surgery is important, since it is possible to undergo a mastectomy and have breast reconstruction surgery at the same time.
A DIEP flap reconstruction in Englewood is a type of breast reconstruction that Dr. David L. Abramson and his staff can perform either concurrently with or after a mastectomy. Schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Abramson and his highly trained medical staff to learn more about your surgical options.
What Is DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery?
DIEP stands for “deep inferior epigastric artery perforator.” The surgery involves using your own tissue to reconstruct your breast after a mastectomy. With this procedure, Dr. Abramson removes skin and fat from your abdominal area and moves it to your chest wall.
Using microvascular surgical techniques, Dr. Abramson reattaches blood vessels in the new location so the flap can heal. Unlike with other procedures in Englewood, the doctor does not remove any muscle during DIEP flap reconstruction, which lowers the risk of abdominal muscle weakness.
While many women are excellent candidates for this procedure, anyone considering the surgery should consult with Dr. Abramson. Women who are thin or at-risk for vascular conditions should take extra care, since healthy blood vessels and adequate blood supply are required for the transplanted tissue to survive. Women with uncontrolled diabetes, connective tissue disease, or vascular disease may not have a successful flap placement.
Women who smoke also have a higher rate of surgical complications; and an extensive history of smoking could make someone ineligible. If you stop using nicotine devices—including vapes, patches, or gum—for six weeks before the surgery, a DIEP flap procedure may still be possible. You should not take aspirin in the lead-up to surgery either.
What Should I Expect From the Procedure?
DIEP flap reconstruction surgery can take up to eight hours to complete. Dr. Abramson takes skin, blood vessels, and fat from your abdomen to create breast tissue. He then uses microvascular techniques to reattach your blood vessels within the flap to your chest area.
Women in Englewood who have undergone DIEP flap surgery report that their abdomen looks flatter and feels tighter. Most women have a scar that runs horizontally from one hip to the other, usually below the bikini line.
DIEP flap reconstruction generally has lower risks than TRAM flap surgery breast reconstruction. While the surgery can be costly, federal law requires that health insurance companies cover reconstruction for mastectomies related to breast cancer.
Recovery from Surgery
After surgery, you must stay in the hospital for about five days so we can monitor the healing of the flap; complete recovery can take up to eight weeks. Dr. Abramson and our experienced medical staff in Englewood will give you specific instructions on cleaning and protecting the graft and donor sites.
You should follow these instructions closely to reduce the risk of postoperative complications, including infection. We will also provide instructions on when you can resume walking, stretching, and your daily activities. Resuming your activities too quickly can compromise the graft site.
A DIEP flap reconstruction includes a donor and graft site, meaning you will have two surgery sites: your abdomen and chest. You will likely experience more discomfort than someone who had a mastectomy alone, and it can take longer for you to heal. Abdominal surgery makes it more difficult to get up and down from a sitting position. To help with your recovery, we will provide a physical therapist who can show you how to splint your abdomen and otherwise move until you heal.
You could have multiple incisions on your chest and your lower abdomen, as well as drains placed in both sites. If you had reconstructive surgery during the mastectomy and had axillary nodes removed, you may have another incision under your arm.
Call Today To Schedule a Consultation in Englewood for Your DIEP Flap Reconstruction
Having a mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery is challenging but it does not have to be traumatic. Coordinating your care with your breast surgeon and Dr. David L. Abramson could reduce the number of surgeries needed to complete your treatment.
Dr. Abramson cares about his patients and takes the time to get to know them. He can help you through this difficult time by sharing his extensive experience and offering his compassionate care. Before you have a mastectomy, call Dr. Abramson to discuss a DIEP flap reconstruction in Englewood.
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