posted by jacq1968
07 February 2020
Diep reconstruction
Last reply:
05 July 2020 15:32
Hi I’m having a prophylactic double mastectomy after having a lumpectomy chemo and radiotherapy and was wondering how quickly I can get a diep reconstruction if I go for that option and if it’s available on public funding or private? Which hospitals do the surgery and are people happy with the outcome
Comments
commented by rum
05 July 2020
05 July 2020 15:32
Hi Encee,
My story is exactly the same. I was told that I was unlucky, but reading your story started to think that the problems with implants are not so uncommon.
Now I'm waiting for DIEP reconstruction.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi Jacq-
Your surgeon would be the best person to advise on when is best/earliest opportunity to undertake it.
I had mine done privately a couple of years ago in Beaumount. I was on the waiting list a good few months but once a date was offered to me, things went quickly! Prior to the DIEP, I had LD with implant reconstruction that failed. That implant was taken out & replaced with a new one which also failed. (This is not hugely common to happen, but it does - I guess I was just unlucky that my body didn’t like implants!) But I am more than happy with the DIEP. I just had one breast reconstructed - surgery is long, recovery is long but I wish that I had done DIEP first! They not only grafted the fatty tissue from my abdomen but they had to take a flap of skin too as some of the skin under my breast was compromised from a combination of damage from radiotherapy and previous surgeries. Don’t know if this helps - and good luck with what ever you decide x