Before and after right breast delayed DIEP flap reconstruction in a 54 year old woman. She initially was not ready to make a decision about breast reconstruction at the time of her cancer diagnosis, 15 years prior. At age 39, she required a mastectomy and completed her cancer treatment and recovered for several years, raising her children before considering reconstruction.
She was given the option of an implant or a flap for reconstruction; she chose the DIEP flap to best match her other breast. Skin and fat was microsurgically transplanted to her right breast to reconstruct a breast that matched her other side in size, shape and consistency.
A nipple and areola reconstruction followed 6 months later. A portion of her left nipple was moved to the right side as a free graft, and medical tattoo reconstructed her areola. Follow up photos are shown 6 months after nipple reconstruction and a year after her DIEP flap. Cancer is finally now behind her, and she has given away her external prosthesis!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
