I Had DIEP Flap. Do You Know What That Is?
Picture this scenario. You walk into a physician or health care provider’s office after having DIEP flap breast reconstruction. They ask you to discuss your current health and why you came into the office for a visit. A standard question, right? You are in a gown sitting on the exam table with only your underwear on under the gown. You know they are going to do a full exam and ask you to open the gown. Before they begin the exam, you say, “I had DIEP flap. Do you know what that is?”
The answer is often one of two replies, “Oh yes, I see. You had a TRAM Flap.” Or, “No, I have no idea what a DIEP flap is.” This is when the education begins. The physician says, “Well, let’s take a look.” I open my gown and begin.
My conversation often goes like this, “See this scar from hip bone to hip bone? My plastic surgeon cut an elliptical shape and cut just around the under side of my belly button. Then he disconnected the skin, underlying fat, and blood vessels from the tummy and transplanted it to my chest where I had my mastectomy.”
At this point I have them fully captivated and in physician examining mode as they stare in quiet respect and amazement. The next thing I often do is gently cup my breasts, begin to move them gently around and say, “Look, they are warm and soft. They move and feel just like the breasts I had before breast cancer. In fact, I also have feeling right here under my nipple area. My plastic surgeon used a procedure called microneurorrhaphy. He used a nerve from my tummy area and reconstructed a nerve cut during my mastectomy to one up here in my breast area.”
There are some physicians who will ask if they can touch my breasts, of course for medical examination. Others, if they don’t ask, are invited by me. I simply say, “Would you like to touch them to see how they feel?” That usually elicits a smile. Some answer, “Sure.” Others, politely say, “It’s OK”. Here are some responses I’ve had.
- Wow! Amazing!
- I mean this in the most medical and respectful way but, your breasts are just beautiful.
- Who did your surgery, if I might ask?
- Can I please have his name for any patients who might need this information in the future?
- May I ask why you went to San Antonio?
- I’ll bet it cost a bit of money.
- I had no idea this type of surgery was done.
- I’m guessing the recovery was a bit difficult?
I have shown urologist, physical therapist, primary care physicians, physicians assistance, oncologists, massage therapists, and other patients in the bathroom of public places. I often begin some of these conversations and show ‘n tells with a, “Are you ready for this Mardi Gras Moment?”
Even after three and half years have passed since my DIEP flap surgery, I am still amazed at the individuals in the medical profession who have never heard of this type of breast reconstruction. You can imagine then, the general population who are unaware.
We must carry on with our mission to educate and inform more patients affected by breast cancer about all their options for breast reconstruction no matter what choice they make. I must conclude with the fact I chose the type of reconstruction that is not as common but is often called the gold standard in breast reconstruction because the patient’s own tissue is used. It is truly a step beyond plastic surgery procedures most have heard about for reconstructing breasts after breast cancer, implant-based surgery.
I am curious to hear from other readers who have had DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Have you ever said,
I Had DEIP Flap. Do You Know What That Is?
