DIEP Flap - Find Out What Sets This Surgery Apart From Others

If you are considering breast reconstruction, it is time to learn about the various options for this surgery. There are a few methods used by modern doctors, and learning the basics about each one can help you decide which one is best for you. One method is called deep inferior epigastric perforator, or DIEP flap. 

This procedure allows the doctor to use the tissue, fat, and skin from other parts of your body to create new breasts, usually after the original ones have been removed during a mastectomy. The tissue usually comes from the stomach, and is simply moved upward to the chest. This method allows you to avoid having a foreign object, such as an implant, placed in your body. Many patients like that it is such a natural procedure. 

The doctor usually starts out by cutting fat and skin from your stomach, leaving your muscle intact. Thus, you will also get a tummy tuck during this procedure, which is a bonus for many patients. The surgeon will also move a vein and an artery from the stomach up to the chest in order to make the surgery work. This is because the relocated tissue will need a blood supply. 

Since the muscle is left, the DIEP flap method is known for being less painful than procedures that require that muscle be removed, and it also boasts a faster healing time. If you have always wanted a tummy tuck but could not justify the out of pocket expenses, the DIEP flap procedure is one way to finally get it without it being purely cosmetic. Your insurance provider will likely pay for your breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, so the tummy tuck will also be covered as it is an unavoidable part of the surgery. 

Of course, there are a few cons to this type of operation. It usually takes longer than other methods of breast reconstruction, despite the shorter healing period. Additionally, you will have two scars, one of which will be on your stomach and the other on your chest. Finally, if you do not have enough fat on your stomach, this might not be the best surgery for you. 

Your surgeon should go over your options with you. Together, you can decide if the DIEP flap procedure is the best one for you. Knowing the basic facts and the pros and cons of this operation may help you make a decision.