Anonymous
Having bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction DIEP flap... questions!
July 24, 2009 - 9:01pm
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Hi:
I am getting ready to have bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with DIEP flap procedure. I was diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast and have elected to remove the right breast to have peace of mind and to avoid ever being in this terrible place of dealing with this ever again.
I have wanted to lose weight for a number of years and have recently lost 25 lbs only to find out that now I need it for my DIEP flap to reconstruct my breasts. I am currently a C cup and would love to be the same or even a little larger if possible. Anyone know how much tissue is needed to do the reconstruction? Anyone else gone through this? Thanks so much for any info or thoughts you might be able to share.
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Dear Anon
Thanks so much for your question. I'm sorry you are facing these challenges now but it sounds like you are keeping a great, proactive attitude - good for you!
We have submitted your question to one of our experts so please check back in the next 72 hours for a response. We look forward to talking to you more!
Hey anon, welcome to EmpowHer. We asked one of the country's best breast experts for her thoughts and here's what she had to say ...
"The amount of tissue that is "moved up" is dependent on how much tummy fat you have. Tummy fat though usually is the hardest fat to lose when weight reduction happens. It is a slower metabolic rate, like breast fat actually. Sit in a chair and grab your fingers around the tummy fat you feel. Keep in mind that the tummy fat removed and used goes all the way over to both of your hips too. Someone with 40Cs needs more than someone who is 34C, due to width needed. So, if you want, eat a little extra high fat foods to put a few pounds back on. Tell your friends, "I'm eating for three- myself and my two new breasts!"
That answer comes courtesy of Lillie D Shockney, RN., BS., MAS
Administrative Director
Distinguished Service Assistant Professor of Breast Cancer
Assistant Professor, JHU School of Medicine, Depts of Surgery and Gynecology
Assistant Professor, JH School of Nursing
Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center
Was that information helpful?
I had the DIEP flap done in 2007. When I went to have it done i only had mastectomy on my right breast. They did a skin sparing 0n my second breast during my DIEP surgery. If you don't have enough tissue in your belly , they can take from your glute (behind) You can look at the site where i had mine done. www.breastcenter.com they have a photo gallery also. Love the doctors there. I traveled from Indy to New Orleans for the DIEP flap. Have many, many friends here that went there. Best of luck to you!
Anon,
Thank you so very much for writing about your experience. There's nothing like hearing from other women when it comes to dealing with our own conditions or undergoing our own procedures. It's also so interesting that you and many of your friends traveled to have this surgery.
For others who are reading, the page she refers to is the home page of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana. It introduces you to their doctors and procedures with detailed information and photographs. The procedures they do include:
--Nipple sparing
--DIEP flap
--"Stacked" DIEP flap
--SIEA flap
--SGAP flap
--IGAP flap
--Bilateral Simultaneous Immediate GAP flap
--Hip flap
--One Step Alloderm Implant Reconstruction
--Lymphedema treatment
--Poland's syndrome treatment
--BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene screening and genetic counseling
Thanks again for writing, Anon. Best of luck to you.