Breast Reconstruction Clubhouse Discussion

This past week, I was fortunate to have Roberta Albany and Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo join me as moderators for a breast reconstruction clubhouse discussion.

Clubhouse is a fairly new app for iPhone users. The sessions generally last an hour in length. Think of it as a casual phone conversation with the members who join. It is not recorded, or at least does not have that feature yet. There are moderators who can invite those who “raise their hand” using an icon on the app to come “up to the stage”. They are invited to speak by a moderator when they raise their hand. Once invited to speak, they unmute their microphone to begin their question, comment, or thoughts.

The topic I chose was “Breast Reconstruction Concerns and Questions Answered”. The discussion and information provided by Roberta and Dr. C was both enlightening and informative. I want to provide some of the concerns presented by patients, questions answered, but more importantly, provide the resources that may further provide insight for the readers of this blog who may have similar breast reconstruction concerns.

Breast Reconstruction Recovery and Pain Management

DIEP flap breast reconstruction involves incisions at the abdominal area to harvest the flap to create a new breast after mastectomy. With incisions at the breast and tummy patients are often concerned about length of stay in hospital, recovery, and pain management. It is a valid and understandable fear. Dr. C spoke at length about ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol. Roberta and I both shared that we did not have this protocol in place at the time of our DIEP flap and how much difference we see in patient recovery and length of time in hospital compared to now and patients who experience the advantages of ERAS. Key take away provided by Dr. C: Change is driven by patients so please mention ERAS to your plastic surgeon at your breast reconstruction consult. I will provide links to resources where you can watch and read more:

Real patient stories who had ERAS protocol.

Episode 100: Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Acupuncture – DiepCJourney Podcast

In this episode of the DiepCJourney® Podcast, we sit down with Tina Tsan, a dual‑licensed acupuncturist and Certified Lymphedema Wound Care Therapist whose integrative approach is reshaping how patients understand and care for their lymphatic health. As noted in the interview outline, Tina brings "a high level of expertise in the field of non‑operative and post‑operative edema control," blending Eastern medicine with modern lymphatic therapy to support patients recovering from surgery and cancer treatment. Tina shares her professional journey, what drew her to acupuncture, how she entered the world of lymphatic and wound care, and why combining these disciplines allows her to treat patients with a more holistic lens. She breaks down the fundamentals of the lymphatic system, why it becomes so critical after mastectomy and reconstruction, and the early signs of lymphatic dysfunction patients should never ignore. We also explore one of the most confusing areas for patients: the difference between lipedema and lymphedema. Tina explains how these conditions develop, why they're often misdiagnosed, and why early recognition matters. She also discusses how breast cancer treatments, including mastectomy, lymph node removal, and radiation, can disrupt lymphatic flow and what patients can do proactively to protect their long‑term health. A major highlight of the conversation is Tina's insight into how acupuncture supports lymphatic drainage, inflammation reduction, scar tissue mobility, pain, tightness, and fatigue. She demystifies what a session feels like, addresses common fears, and explains why acupuncture can be beneficial both before and after surgery. We close with a powerful discussion on integrative healing, the role of emotional stress, trauma, empowerment, and lifestyle habits in recovery, and Tina shares details about the upcoming Lipedema Summit 2026, a growing movement in patient education and advocacy. This episode is packed with clarity, compassion, and practical guidance for anyone navigating breast cancer recovery, lymphatic challenges, or integrative healing. To learn more about her work Tina shares how listeners can connect with her work and continue learning about lymphatic health and integrative care. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-tsan-daom-clt-17842634/ Website: Harmony Lymphatics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmony_lymphatics/  

1. Episode 100: Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Acupuncture 44:54
2. Episode 99: Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Therapy 34:18
3. Episode 98: Am I Being Told All My Options for Breast Reconstruction? 27:03
4. Episode 97: Exercise That Supports Healing 23:31
5. Episode 96: Breast Sensibility: The Mind/Body Connection 36:37

Breast Reconstruction Wound Healing and Seromas

Patients present with a variety of medical history and prior surgeries that can compromise or make wound healing more challenging for some. One participant shares her experience with prior seromas and healing after being brought to the stage. Dr. C listens carefully to the details and advises her accordingly. Resources discussing these to concerns can be found in the links below for further information and details.

Blog discussing breast reconstruction wounds and management can be found in this link.

Breast Reconstruction Clubhouse Discussion on Sensation

Unfortunately, women are not always aware or told their breasts will have numbness after mastectomy. There is hope restoring some of the sensation lost during mastectomy. If a woman is considering autologous reconstruction sensation can be performed with or without the use of a nerve graft. Resources to understand this process further are provided in the links below:

Sensory Nerve Reconstruction During DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

Nerve Graft and Restoring Sensation to the Breast

Sensation can also be restored during implant-based reconstruction. Dr. C mentioned the two surgeons who pioneered this work, Drs. Anne Peled and Ziv Peled. You can listen to the podcast and watch the video interviews with these two surgeons in the links below:

Breast Reconstruction and Breast Sensation with the DiepCJourney Podcast in this blog.

Nipple Sparing Mastectomy in Breast Reconstruction

There was also a detailed discussion about nipple sparing mastectomy and why or why not women chose this at the time of breast surgery or breast reconstruction based on choice and oncologic safety. More details are in the links below. Thank you to PRMA for providing the link to the video.

From Nipple Sparing Mastectomy to DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction Clubhouse

I was grateful to those who participated and joined us that evening. There is a “Club” on Clubhouse titled, “Breast Reconstruction” I set up with the intention of having further discussions for interested participants. I encourage you to give Clubhouse a try and follow me by searching Terri Coutee and my moderators by searching Roberta Albany and Minas Chrysopoulo. I hope you will join me for the next breast reconstruction Clubhouse discussion.

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