Breast cancer affects women physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Breasts being a symbol of femininity, their loss can be quite distressing.
Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is the ideal solution for women looking to regain their lost breasts.
As breast reconstruction is a complex procedure, before undergoing it, you need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the surgery.
DIEP Flap Breast Surgery after a Mastectomy Over the past 30 years breast reconstruction immediately after a mastectomy has seen a significant rise.
From 10% in 1980 it has seen a growth to around 90% today.
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is one of the most advanced surgical procedures available.
The procedure makes use of the patient's own body fat and abdominal skin for reconstructing soft, warm and natural breasts after a mastectomy, while preserving all the abdominal muscles.
Patients experience less pain and faster recovery with this procedure.
In spite of its many advantages, there are only a few plastic surgery centers that offer DIEP flap surgery.
This is mainly because the procedure involves microsurgery and demands outstanding skills on the part of the plastic surgeon.
The skin and fat from the tummy area is moved to the chest.
The procedure does not involve the cutting or moving of any abdominal muscle.
Typically, most women have sufficient tissue in their abdominal area to create a new breast.
Though similar to a tummy tuck in that skin and fat are removed from the tummy, DIEP flap surgery also involves the movement of a vein and artery from the tissue flap to the chest in order to supply blood to the transplanted tissue.
You are a candidate for the DIEP flap procedure if you have sufficient lower abdominal soft tissue, regardless of your age.
A Look at the Advantages

• Women who have had a mastectomy and are miserable about their loss can regain their self-esteem and confidence by opting for breast reconstruction.
  This procedure allows the creation of natural-looking breasts.
  
• No abdominal muscle is moved and so the tummy area remains firm.
  
• There is no risk of developing abdominal hernia following this procedure.
  
• Pain is less and recovery time is quick, compared to a TRAM flap procedure.
  
• The removal of abdominal skin and fat trims the tummy area, giving the effect of a tummy tuck.
  
• DIEP flap reconstruction has a failure rate less than 1%.
  

To enjoy all the benefits offered by this unique breast surgery procedure, ensure that it is performed by a reputable and experienced plastic surgeon at a state-of-the-art plastic surgery facility.