DIEP Flap
Sometimes after a mastectomy, there is not enough skin or fat tissue available in the treated area to reconstruct the breast. Due to this common situation, various surgical techniques have been developed to bring tissue from different parts of the body up to help reconstruct the shape of the natural breast in its proper position. One of these techniques is the DIEP Flap.
This technique involves …show more content…
When a full mastectomy is necessary, the plastic surgeon will work with the patient, along with the oncologist, to determine the best options for reconstruction. The patient may prefer to keep the scars and not reconstruct. Or the patient may want to replace the damaged tissue with breast implants.
Involving a plastic surgeon early in the process offers the chance to achieve the best results.
Nipple reconstruction
Most mastectomies involve removal of the nipple. There are a couple of options available for reconstructing the nipple.
Tattooing the nipple and areola is one option. This method uses advanced tattooing techniques to create a 3D realistic version of a natural nipple. The only downside to this technique is that the physical protrusion of the nipple is missing.
Another option is to use a skin graft to reconstruct the nipple protrusion. Then, once the surgery has healed, use the 3D tattooing to bring the natural color and depth back.
If you need breast reconstruction or breast augmentation, call on the professionals at Proffer Surgical Associates in