Before and after left delayed breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap in a 57-year-old breast cancer survivor. She had previously undergone a left non-nipple sparing mastectomy and chemotherapy but was not offered breast reconstruction! This is extremely disappointing, as reconstruction of the breast is not only a legal right to women facing breast cancer, but when she asked about her options, this patient was told “you should be happy to be alive.”
She felt strongly that she did not want an implant for reconstruction and was delighted that she could use her own tissue to build a new breast. Skin and fat was microvascularly transplanted from her lower abdomen to the left chest as a DIEP flap. A right balancing breast reduction and lift was performed to achieve the very best symmetry.
A right-to-left free nipple reconstructed her left nipple. Medical tattoo created a new areolar circle on the left. Nowadays, we refer to a paramedical tattoo artist to create a more natural, three-dimensional looking nipple and areolar reconstruction.
Follow up photos are shown a year and a half after surgery. She non longer feels “like a breast cancer patient” with a constant visual reminder of her cancer treatment and is extremely grateful that she had this reconstructive option.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
