The Benefits of DIEP Flap Reconstruction

If you have recently had a mastectomy, then you are probably in the process of exploring your surgical options for replacing the lost breast tissue from your procedure. There are a variety of options for women who have been forced to undergo a mastectomy by a medical condition. Among these surgical options is the DIEP flap procedure. DIEP stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforators, and the procedure involves taking a flap of skin and fat from the abdomen and using it to reconstruct the breast lost during the mastectomy. This procedure carries with it several benefits that often make it an optimal choice for women in need of breast reconstruction.

Among the benefits of DIEP flap reconstruction surgery is the fact that the tissue being used for the reconstruction comes directly from the patient's body. This is the best source for reconstructive material because the body recognizes the tissue as its own. Therefore, there is no possibility of your body rejecting the tissue. Moreover, tissue from the patient's body is safer than other methods of reconstruction. Breast implants involve the insertion of silicon bags, which carry with them the possibility of rejection as well as other health risks.

Another benefit of the DIEP flap procedure is the fact that it involves taking tissue from the body in such a way that the removal of the tissue carries very little risk. The tissue from the abdomen is taken from the patient without any risk of harm to the abdominal muscles. Moreover, many women have actually reported being happy with the way that their abdomen looks after the procedure as the removal of fat from that area results in a slimmer figure. In addition, the skin on the abdomen tends to be more elastic than in other areas of the body which reduces the effects of scarring.

In all, then, the DIEP flap reconstructive procedure is often one of the best methods of breast reconstruction after undergoing a mastectomy. The procedure is safe, and results in a natural looking and natural feeling reconstruction. Not all patients, however, are good candidates for DIEP flap reconstruction since the procedure requires that the patient have enough excess tissue in the abdomen to successfully replace the lost tissue in the breast. Patients who find themselves in this category ought to consult with their surgeon about other available options, of which there are many.