DIEP Flap Surgery after a Mastectomy

The DIEP flap surgery is a form of reconstructive surgery that focuses on the female anatomy, specifically the breasts. It is usually reserved after the patient has successfully undergone a mastectomy. This is another surgery that entails taking away one or both breasts as a way of curbing cancer. Many women abhor having this done but there are times when the taking away of the mammary gland is necessary. The method gets its name from the vein and artery used to supply blood to the flap.

Ideal candidates for the DIEP flap procedure need to have ample amount of excess skin, tissue and fat in their stomach to replace the ones lost during the mastectomy. This means that women who are basically thin with minimal stomach paunch may not be ideal for it. Smokers are also discouraged from undergoing the operation because smoking does not help with wound healing process. It may slow it down resulting to the site turning into scar tissue instead of living tissue. 

The Procedure

The DIEP flap operation starts with a technique highly similar to an abdominoplasty otherwise known as a tummy tuck. Marks are mad eon the body to help facilitate the procedure. A half moon or semi circle incision is usually made just below the navel and the skin, tissue and fat from this are gathered. When the surgeon is satisfied with the amount of harvested, he or she will also need to get a vein and an artery from the area to help make the moved tissue into living tissue by supplying blood to the area. The incision will then be closed and the standard procedures of a tummy tuck ending are put into place. 

The flap that has been removed from the abdomen will then be attached to the area where the breast used to be. Microsurgery is necessary to attach the blood vessels from the flap to the ones in the chest. This is so that blood can flow to the flap and retain its vitality. Reshaping is also necessary to match the new breast to the previous one or to the one beside it.

Recovery for the DIEP flap operation may be a bit uncomfortable because there are two surgical sites to contend with. The blood vessels which have been reattached to the one sin the chest need to be monitored well by the nurses who will take care of the patient after the procedure. Drains are usually placed in both surgical areas to facilitate the evacuation of fluids from the sites. Pain relievers, anti inflammatory medicines and antibiotics are expected to be prescribed by the surgeon.