Pros and Cons of DIEP Flap

Breast cancer can be a devastating diagnosis to hear for a patient and her family, but the DIEP Flap method of reconstruction can help. There are, of course, pros and cons to the procedure. Cancer strikes a multitude of women and men but breast cancer can be especially troubling. Not only does a woman have to deal with a disease that may cost her years of her lifetime, she also often has to lose a body part that she associates with her femininity. Diseased breasts are often removed through an operation called a mastectomy. Radiation and chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with surgical removal of the chest and glandular tissue as well. Many times, a lumpectomy may be an alternative if the cancer hasn’t spread throughout the region. A lumpectomy is an operation which removes a lump rather than the entire mound.

After a mastectomy, reconstruction is often desired. One way to reconstruct breasts is with the DIEP Flap method. DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric perforator. The deep inferior epigastric perforator is associated with an artery in the abdominal area. The tissue used to reconstruct the area is a flap of skin pulled up from the belly region. The artery in question is involved because it is relocated from the belly to the chest in order to provide blood flow to the new breast.

Some pros to this method include:

- Simultaneous slimming of mid-section: A patient will end up with a reduced abdomen size similar to undergoing an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck.

- High success rate: This procedure has been found to have a very high success rate.

- Less pain: Other flap reconstructive procedures entail moving muscles which results in more painful surgeries. This method doesn’t involve the relocation of muscular systems and so is considered to be less painful.

- Natural tissue: A patient’s own tissue is utilized in order to have a more natural result. A nipple/areola may be added later by suturing an additional protrusion on top of the mound, then applying a tattoo for the proper coloring.

Some cons to the method include:

- There is a chance of tissue dying: If tissue dies during the process, a waiting period of up to one year must occur before trying the procedure again.

- Not for the excessively slim: If a woman is very slender, she may not have enough belly tissue to spare. This procedure requires enough abdominal skin and tissue to turn into the flap.

- Smokers have less success: This is not a good option for women who refuse to quit smoking cigarettes. It has been proven that the use of tobacco or even being in the presence of second hand smoke can hamper an immune system's response.

The DIEP Flap method can give a woman back her feminine appearance by using tissue in her own body. After ending up with a natural appearing bosom and slenderized mid-section, a woman may receive a psychological boost which is helpful in powering up her immune system to effectively fight disease.