Patient who previously underwent left mastectomy (removal of breast and skin) and radiation therapy to the left chest wall.
Right breast: Breast augmentation
Left breast: DIEP flap breast reconstruction
Postoperative views following delayed left breast reconstruction (reconstruction after mastectomy and radiation therapy), subsequent second stage (outpatient) procedure and areola tattoo.
Reconstruction using patient’s own skin and soft tissue from the abdomen to replace radiation damaged skin of left chest with DIEP flap, sparing the abdominal muscle.
Light colored skin of the left breast reconstruction is the lighter colored skin taken from abdomen to replace stiff, irradiated chest wall skin.
DIEP flap breast reconstruction on the left resulted in a shape which was better than the shape of the opposite, unoperated right breast. Therefore, symmetry was achieved by placement of a right silicone breast implant.
Patient with cancer of the right breast. She underwent surgery for removal (mastectomy) of the right breast with reconstruction with her own abdominal tissue sparing the abdominal muscle (DIEP flap).
Right breast: DIEP flap breast reconstruction
Left breast: No surgery
Postoperative views following immediate left breast reconstruction (reconstruction during same surgery as mastectomy), subsequent second stage (outpatient) procedure and areola tattoo.
Note improvement in contour of abdomen with intact abdominal muscle profile on both sides of abdomen in postoperative photo taken over 1 year after the initial surgery. Patient declined touch up of right areola tattoo.
Patient with cancer of the left breast. She underwent surgery for removal (mastectomy) of the left breast with reconstruction with her own abdominal tissue sparing the abdominal muscle (DIEP flap).
Right breast: Mastopexy (Breast Lift)
Left breast: DIEP flap breast reconstruction
Postoperative views following immediate left breast reconstruction (reconstruction during same surgery as mastectomy), subsequent second stage (outpatient) procedure and areola tattoo.
Reconstruction result very similar to aesthetic contouring of the abdomen with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and breast lift (mastopexy).
Intact abdominal muscle contours are visible on both sides of abdomen in all photo views.
