How long does flap reconstruction last?

DIEP flap reconstruction surgery takes about 6 to 8 hours.

How long does flap surgery last?

DIEP flap surgery typically takes anywhere from six to eight hours. The procedure varies depending on whether you're having immediate or delayed reconstruction. Some people having delayed reconstruction may have had a tissue expander placed under the skin of their chest during their mastectomy.

How successful is DIEP flap reconstruction?

Some patients even regain breast sensitivity over time. We perform approximately 300 DIEP flaps (deep inferior epigastric perforator artery flap) each year with a success rate of approximately 99%.

What are the risks of flap breast reconstruction?

Blood vessels supplying the flap may kink or get clots, leading to bleeding and a loss of circulation. This may cause the tissue to die, leading to a partial or complete loss of the flap. This is more common in women who smoke or have recently quit. Quitting before surgery will help you to decrease the risk.

What happens after DIEP flap reconstruction?

First 2-3 days are spent in the hospital to recover. Patients should expect to be walking multiple times the day after surgery and can gradually increase walking time and distance as they feel comfortable. By day 3, most patients can head home.

Abdominal Results Patients Can Expect After DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

How long does a DIEP flap last?

How long does DIEP Flap surgery usually take? For one breast, a DIEP can take 3-4 hours. For both breasts, 6-7 hours. If you are having a mastectomy at the same time, then add 1-2 additional hours.

What are the long term effects of DIEP flap?

There is also a small risk of tissue rejection or loss due to blood supply issues, a loss of sensation in the areas which have been operated on. Other side effects to be aware of include long term abdominal strength issues and the possibility of fluid build-up.

Do reconstructed breasts sag over time?

The reconstructed breast will not droop with age and may look higher than the other breast, particularly as you get older. If you lose or gain weight, this will affect the natural breast but not the reconstructed breast, causing a difference in shape and size.

What is the safest breast reconstruction?

Implants are a safe choice for breast reconstruction, but they may have to be replaced at certain points in life. Breast implants are a safe and popular choice for breast reconstruction.

Which is better flap or graft?

Skin flaps are thought to provide better cosmetic results than skin grafting (Fig. 5), as the skin tone and texture are usually better matched. Additionally, they have a reduced chance of failure in comparison to skin grafts.

What percentage of DIEP flap surgeries fail?

Although flap failure rates are typically cited as 1% to 2%, there are few scenarios among reconstructive breast surgeons that are as devastating to patients and the health care team as a failed reconstruction.

How much fat is needed for DIEP reconstruction?

Although there is no textbook fat requirement for DIEP flap surgery, there are three factors to consider when answering the question—BMI, how an individual's weight is distributed, and final result expectations. The amount of fat needed to perform a successful DIEP procedure will vary based on an individual's needs.

How often do diep flaps fail?

The most successful microsurgical practices performing surgeries like the DIEP flap boast success rates of 99% or higher. All surgery has risks and unfortunately, for some patients things will not go according to plan. This can happen to anyone, even in the hands of the best doctors.

What is the success rate of flap surgery?

Introduction. Microvascular free flap reconstruction has been regarded as a standard procedure following head and neck cancer resection¹. Its technique has progressed well over time and nowadays has achieved a success rate of 91–99%^2,3,4.

What is the best flap for breast reconstruction?

The most common pedicle flap used for breast reconstruction is the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap, where tissue from the back (skin, fat, and muscle) is used to make a new breast. Tissue from the abdominal wall (tummy) can also be used as a pedicle flap (transverse rectus abdominis muscle or TRAM flap).

Will a skin flap grow back?

A skin flap heals like a normal wound does. The flap is kept alive by the blood supplied by its own blood vessels. Over time, these blood vessels may grow and supply more blood to the area. Blood vessels in the flap that were cut usually connect with the blood vessels in the wound area.

Do reconstructed breasts ever feel normal?

Certain types of reconstruction surgery do not restore normal feeling to your breast, but in other types some feeling might return over time. It may take up to about 8 weeks for bruising and swelling to go away. Try to be patient as you wait to see the final result.

Do reconstructed breasts feel natural?

A rebuilt breast will not have the same feeling as the natural breast. Sometimes, it may have little or no feeling at all. The places the tissue to rebuild the breast was taken from (donor sites) might also lose some feeling.

Why is breast reconstruction so painful?

It is a normal reaction for the body to form a fibrous capsule around it. Over some years, the capsule can shrink and squeeze the implant. Doctors call this capsular contracture. It makes the breast painful and hard and changes its shape.

When can I go braless after breast reconstruction?

You should avoid going braless before the six-week mark after your surgery. Dr. Howland requires patients to wear their compression bra for several weeks at all times except when bathing to aid the healing process.

Do reconstructed breasts have nipples?

In a final stage of breast reconstruction, a nipple and areola may be re-created on the reconstructed breast, if these were not preserved during the mastectomy. Sometimes breast reconstruction surgery includes surgery on the other, or contralateral, breast so that the two breasts will match in size and shape.

Do you have nipples with breast reconstruction?

If you're having breast reconstruction after your mastectomy, you can decide if you want to have the nipple and the dark area around the nipple (areola) reconstructed through surgery or tattooing, or both.

Why is my abdomen hard after DIEP flap surgery?

This is due to the suturing technique we use that allows us to keep the incision scar lower on the abdomen. To help alleviate post surgery abdominal tightness, scar massage and scar creams can be used to minimize and soften the abdominal scar.

Is DIEP like a tummy tuck?

DIEP Flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap)

The surgery uses the patient's own abdominal skin and fat (similar to a tummy tuck/abdominoplasty) to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast after mastectomy. Unlike the pedicled TRAM flap, the DIEP flap preserves all abdominal muscles.

What is Phase 2 of DIEP flap?

The second stage of surgery is commonly referred to as the “revision” stage and is usually performed about three months after the initial reconstruction. The purpose of the second stage of DIEP surgery is to fine-tune the reconstructed breast and improve the overall cosmetic results.