Before and after bilateral delayed breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps in a 52-year-old breast cancer survivor. Following right breast cancer treated with several lumpectomies and radiation therapy and chemo, she learned she was a carrier of the BRCA gene. She had a second mastectomy on the left side, and placement of implants on each side.
Unfortunately, the right implant became infected and required removal. She was excited that she had another option – to use her body’s own tissue for breast reconstruction. Skin and fat was microvascularly transplanted from the lower abdomen to the chest. The left implant was removed and replaced with a free flap.
A year later, nipples were created using the local flap technique, and medical tattoo created two new areolar circles. Liposuction removed excess fat from around her abdominal donor site, her axillary rolls (armpits and bra rolls) and flanks. Some of the fat was transplanted to the chest to further enhance her flap contour – although most fat graft gets reabsorbed after fat transfer. Learn more about fat grafting to the breasts here.
Follow up photos are shown 3 years after surgery. She feels whole again and has finally been able to move forward into a new stage in her breast cancer recovery journey.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
