DIEP Flap Procedure Details

If you are considering breast reconstruction, you should learn about the main types of surgery before you go to your appointment. The DIEP flap procedure, or deep inferior epigastric perforator, is one of them, and it has various advantages over the other methods. For this reason, it is one of the most popular kinds of reconstruction techniques today. Find out the pros and cons of this method.

Like some other methods of breast reconstruction, the DIEP flap procedure uses fat and tissue from the abdominals to form new breasts on the patient's chest. No muscle is removed, which makes it different from other procedures, like the TRAM flap. This means that the surgery is less involved, making it easier to recover from. The main benefit is that stomach fat feels similar to breast tissue, making it feel more natural than implants. Additionally, some patients will be glad to get the same benefits that patients with a tummy tuck get, as this procedure leads to a flatter stomach since it involves removing fat from the abdomen.

The majority of women tend to have enough fat on their midsection to successfully complete this surgery, but those who do not may just have to have an implant put in to make the size and shape of breast that they want. The DIEP flap is named after an artery in the stomach, which is moved from the stomach to the chest area. This is so that the tissue that is displaced can continually have a blood supply, keeping it healthy and natural looking.

There are some disadvantages of this surgery, starting with the fact that it is usually longer than most other methods. Also, since the fat is taken from the abdomen and placed into the chest, you can expect two incisions, meaning two scars. In some cases, the tissue that is transplanted may die despite efforts to keep it alive, and the process will have to be started over. Additionally, some people are not good candidates, such as those who are too thin to have enough stomach fat, and smokers, as the incisions will heal very slowly.

Clearly, there are some pros and cons to the DIEP flap procedure. Most women who need breast reconstruction will find that they are candidates for this operation, but they need to decide if this is the best one for them. Your doctor should help you go over the advantages and disadvantages of this operation with you before you choose.