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DIEP reconstruction advice - concerned about scars

SGMH
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Hello,  I am considering my surgery reconstruction choices (I can have reconstruction at same time as mastectomy on left breast).  My breast surgeon has recommended DIEP surgery but I am very concerened about the scarring that I will be left with post-op and would be grateful for any advice.

If you have undergone DIEP surgery please get in touch and tell me your thoguhts about your post-op scars.  Have they settled, faded, healed well?  Do have any regrests and wish you had chosen implants?

I am torn between chosing DIEP or implant, and any feedback would be helpful.  I am worried that post DIEP op I will look down at my body and only see a big scar smiling back at me.

Thank you so much :-)

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    Hello SGMH and welcome to our forum, 

    I thought I would share with you our detailed website information on breast reconstruction which you can read here - the section on the different types of breast reconstruction can be found here. 

    I recently welcomed another lady [@Shaz1969]‍  to this forum who was also trying to figure out what the best reconstruction options would be for her. You can read her thread here and respond if you wish - it's always nice to talk to someone else who is in a similar position.  

    As for finding others who have undergone DIEP surgery before, you can do this easily on our forum by typing the keywords 'DIEP' in our search function which is located in the blue banner at the top. You will then see relevant results and will be able to respond to any that you feel are of interest to you. For example, in this thread  [@Lisag]‍ mentioned that she was going to have a DIEP in February and [@DBird]‍  shared her positive experience too of minimal scarring so do feel free to respond too and hopefully you will also hear from one of these amazing ladies soon and they will be happy to answer questions you may have. 

    Our nurse team is also only a free phone call away on 0808 800 4040 - their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. 

    Good luck with your difficult decision! I hope everything goes well. Keep us updated, if you can!

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi,

    I had a mastectomy and Tummy diep surgery on 18th February, initially although sore and exhausted after op,I was extremely pleased with the result. Unfortunately my reconstruction failed as there was a problem with blood flow to one of the capillaries in my breast,so I had to have an exploratory op the following day, which resulted in the reconstruction being removed! I was very upset and dissapointed, but I remaied positive and 6 days later I had a back flap reconstruction! It was all a bit of an ordeal, 3 ops in 7 days (26 hours of anaesthetic alltogether!)

    I am now 8 weeks post op from tummy and 7 weeks post op after back flap. I am thrilled with the look as surgeon saved a large amount of my skin. I have also had the all clear following my lymph node biopsy which they carried out at the same time as first op.So healing well and on the up!!!

    Feel free to message me with any questions or concerns,

    Lisa x 

  • Offline

    Hi, 

    It was a HUGE relief! All 3 areas healing well now, booked in to see plastic surgeon in couple of weeks to check what further 'tweaking needs to be done! I am so pleased with the scars as so much thinner than I expected, even if longer and in 3 areas rather than 2! Lisa xxx

  • Offline

    Thank you everyone for your replies. Sorry for taking so long to say thanks - am just resurfacing after my final round of chemo.  Your comments are really insightful and will help me make my surgery decision.

    Thank you for your support.

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