I just had a DIEP Flap done. It is a long surgery and you want to make sure you have someone very skilled and experienced doing it. They take your abdominal skin and fat and recreate your breast with it. They reconnect the blood vessels and they feel warm to the touch. There is less chance of complications once they heal because you are using your own tissue. You also get a tummy tuck at the same time. I’m just three days out from my surgery, but so far so good.

I had an implant after radiation but it didn't work out for me. My radiated skin contracted and it was painful and uncomfortable. Some don't have any issues, everybody is different. If I had to do it again I would go the DIEP route.

Hi Katherine, I had my diet flap reconstruction done about a year after my mastectomy. The first 3 weeks were a little difficult because I had to use a walker and couldn't stand upright due to pulling on the abdominal incision. My back was sore from always being bent over but in hindsight I am glad I had the diep flap. It was a long surgery but for me it was worth it. I had chemo and radiation but as you know, everyone is different.

My doctor won’t do reconstruction till after radiation. It can cause damage to the implant

Thank you both I've been reading studies that indicate there are ways to lessen complication risk if going with an implant. Just read one this evening about using harvested fat. Not sure I want implants, as the prevailing wisdom is that the women are less satisfied with results. Better results tend to be seen when using the womans own tissue like a flap or non-flap surgery.

I'm really curious about DIEP, as that seems to be one that works well and actually targets a current problem area for me. :o) Glad to hear a positive review for that option.