DIEP reconstruction is one of several flap surgery options. Here are some things to think about.
When a patient has lost a breast to cancer,
there are various flap surgeries she can opt for including DIEP reconstruction. While physicians aren't sure exactly why breast cancer strikes some women and not others, there are a variety of risk factors that seem to be linked. This disease is the most common cancer in females in the United States after melanoma, squamous and basal skin carcinomas. It often begins in the milk ducts and is then called ductal carcinoma. While receiving this diagnosis can be a devastating thing, today there are many treatments that successfully eradicate the spread of cancerous cells and multiple reconstruction possibilities are available. Here are some things to think about:
- Risk factors for getting breast cancer: There are multiple risk factors but just because a woman has them doesn't mean she will get the disease. Medical research has shown links to obesity, alcohol consumption, late menopause, early menstruation, late child-bearing, genetic mutation and personal or family history. Taking hormone therapy also shows an increased risk.
- Detection: Early detection is often key and can be done through self exams, physician examinations and mammograms. When this disease is caught early, a lumpectomy or mastectomy can take care of the problem. When it's advanced, more radical options such as radiation and chemotherapy will be needed.
- DIEP flap: This stands for deep inferior epigastric perforator. The DIEP reconstruction procedure entails taking excess fat and skin from the tummy and repositioning it to create a new breast. Not only can this be done immediately after a mastectomy, it creates a slimmer midsection much like a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.
- Free TRAM option: During a free TRAM flap operation, the physician will also move belly tissue to recreate a new mound on the chest. This method will also entail moving muscle and redirecting blood supply with a microsurgery technique. This is riskier than the DIEP method.
- Pedicle TRAM: This method entails disconnecting skin, fat, and muscles from the belly and tunneling it to the chest region. Blood vessels will also be relocated during this operation.
- Latissimus flap: This is another technique that is similar to the pedicle tunneling except the tissue is taken from the patients' back.
- Implants: Inserting implants filled with either saline or silicone solution into the location is another method of reconstruction. This may be done immediately if there's enough space present to place the device; it may need to be done in a subsequent surgery after the area has been stretched with an expanding device.
- Nipples: Before reconstructing a new nipple, healing must have taken place from the previous surgeries. In order to create a nipple areola, the doctor will either suture a tuck into place or make a star shaped incision. A tattoo will be used to add a deeper color tone to the area.
There have been many advances in cancer research, detection, and treatment including DIEP reconstruction and other methods. Patients who lose a breast to cancer now have many different choices for reshaping their physiques.
