Friday, November 22, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Breast Reconstruction With a DIEP Flap
Breast cancer strikes an alarming number of women, and many of them must deal with losing a breast through mastectomy. This is a terrible blow to your self image, self-esteem and your womanhood. Plastic surgery offers a way to get your looks and figure back. It’s called breast reconstruction and uses a DIEP flap to give you back what you’ve lost.
What Is A DIEP Flap
“DIEP” stands for “deep inferior epigastric perforator”. Inferior epigastric blood vessels are those that send blood to the new tissue used in breast reconstruction. It is a much easier and safer procedure than the older TRAM reconstruction technique that moved muscles to get blood to the new tissue. It also means a shorter hospital stay, less risks and more effective blood flow to your new breast.
DIEP flap is the most natural reconstruction option. It uses tissue from your body, including fat and abdominal tissue, to construct your new breast. This means that the grafted tissue will have a natural feel, just like the one you’ve lost. If you’ve ever considered getting implants, you know how unnatural they can look. This technique offers a more realistic option, since it uses your body’s own tissue.
To put it simply, the breast tissue is inserted, and then the DIEP flap connects it to your abdomen with blood vessels. The end result is a natural-feeling autologous implant that is really part of your body, connected by blood vessels. Many women who are undergoing reconstruction surgery opt to do a little other work on the side. It is a great time to get a tummy tuck, or other plastic surgery procedure.
In order to insert the DIP flap, the doctor has to remove tissue from the abdomen.
While they are already working in that area, it is a great chance to remove or reposition tissue there as well.There are lots of women who would never consider plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, but would get work one after a mastectomy.
What You Can Expect From Your DIEP Flap
Breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap is a permanent surgery. The results should stay with you a lifetime, meaning you’ll never have to have any follow-up surgery done. You can have natural-looking cleavage for the rest of your life. Like any other surgery, DIEP flap surgery is not without its risks. You should talk to your doctor in detail about what you can expect from the operation. You can expect a recovery period, where you will have to take it easy and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.
The biggest risks involve the scars and tissue healing correctly. There can be bleeding, infection or complications caused by tightening of scar tissue. Risks and complications are rare, but you should be aware of them before you get your breast reconstruction surgery done.
During the consultation, have a look at your doctor’s before and after pictures. This will give you a good idea of what to expect, and that’s the key to your surgery’s success. Ask any questions you may have and get detailed information from your doctor before the operation about anesthetic and recovery time.
DIEP flap gives women who have lost a breast a wonderful chance to get it back and feel like a woman again. Don’t let a mastectomy ruin your life. Talk to a plastic surgeon about what the DIEP flap reconstruction surgery can do for you.
Don’t let mastectomy affect your womanhood! To regain your looks, opt for breast DIEP flap reconstruction. The Woodlands breast surgeon uses advanced techniques in breast reconstruction to create a natural looking breast. Visit http://www.drkimplasticsurgery.com to learn more.
Breast Reconstruction With a DIEP Flap
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
What Advantages Does DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Offer?
Women who have had a mastectomy go in for reconstruction surgery to restore the shape of their breasts. There are many options available, but the one that has rapidly gained acceptance as the standard of care due to the many advantages it offers is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.
DIEP Flap Reconstruction – State-of-the-Art Technique
The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap procedure involves autologous reconstruction which uses your own body’s tissue to reconstruct your breast(s). The surgery can only be performed by a plastic surgeon skilled in microsurgery. In the procedure, abdominal fat and skin are harvested, transferred and used to recreate the breast mound. Compared to other methods, DIEP flap breast reconstruction offers many advantages:
• Long-lasting results: Autologous reconstruction is a better option than breast implants as it uses your own tissue which the body will not reject. Implant risks such as leaks and ruptures can be avoided. DIEP flap surgery ensures long-lasting results.
• Natural feel: The recreated breast feels and looks like a natural breast. Patient satisfaction is therefore ensured.
• Preserves abdominal strength: The surgery does not sacrifice abdominal muscle and wall strength. As no abdominal muscle is affected or removed, it avoids the risks associated with herniation.
• Offers tummy tuck effects: The removal of fatty tissue from the abdominal area offers the patient a sleeker looking tummy.
• Reduced post-surgery pain: Compared to other breast reconstruction techniques such as pedicled and TRAM flaps, DIEP flap involves less post-surgery pain.
• Short hospital stay: Recovery is relatively fast and hospital stays are as short as 3-4 days.
• Suitable for certain sub-sets of patients: This breast reconstruction procedure is suitable for obese individuals, those who have had previous abdominal surgery, physically active women, those with bilateral reconstruction, irradiated women or those for whom other modalities have not worked.
• Can be performed in conjunction with breast removal surgery: DIEP flap reconstruction can be performed immediately after the mastectomy or when the tissues have healed, depending on the health of the patient.
Thus, the state-of-the-art DIEP flap reconstruction technique provides the best long-term aesthetic results with minimal complications and therefore ensures enhanced patient satisfaction.
In most cases, the surgeon may need to create the areola and recreate or augment the nipple. Symmetry of the breasts is important, too.
The Right Surgeon for Successful Breast Reconstruction Surgery
To reap all the advantages of DIEP flap breast reconstruction and ensure success, it is necessary that you find the right plastic surgeon. The surgeon should be board-certified and the surgery, AAAASF-certified. It’s important that the specialist is skilled as well as has sufficient experience in performing this particular procedure. Make sure you are comfortable with your surgeon and that he/she is sensitive to your requirements.
Dr. Sean Boutros at the AAAASF certified Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Center in Houston, TX performs safe DIEP flap breast reconstruction. For more details visit http://www.drseanboutros.com/diep-flap-breast-reconstruction.html
What Advantages Does DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Offer?
Friday, November 1, 2013
Reasons Why People Consider DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Many women face problems such as asymmetry of the breasts, loss of breast volume and abnormalities of the breast after a mastectomy. Many surgeons recommend DIEP flap breast reconstruction for correcting all such issues. If an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon is chosen for performing the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) procedure, you are ensured natural looking and softer breasts.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Is a Solution for Several Problems
This procedure offers a good solution for various problems that arise post any breast surgery. This is a reconstructive surgery in which the tissue or skin is removed from the abdominal area for recreating the breast. During mastectomy there is partial or complete removal of the breasts. In bilateral mastectomies, there is removal of both the breasts. Through DIEP Flap procedure, the breasts can be successfully reconstructed. This procedure has to be performed a few months after mastectomy or immediately after it.
The procedure is also recommended for women who are having problems with implants. Sometimes, lot of discomfort and pain is experienced in implant surgery of the breasts. This issue can be corrected by DIEP flap and symmetrical and natural outcomes can be achieved.
Some women experience abnormalities in breast size. In some cases, the size of one breast may be smaller than the other. Other issues include deformities of skeletal chest wall and ribs or complete absence of the chest muscle or breast. This advanced procedure of plastic surgery can definitely correct it.
Why Opt for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction?
One of the biggest advantages of this procedure is that there is no removal of abdominal muscle.
Various benefits are offered by this procedure. Listed below are some of them:
The stomach muscles are preserved and abdominal strength is maintained
Since excess tissue and fat are removed from the abdomen, the benefits of tummy tuck can be enjoyed. There is no adverse effect on donor site.
Delayed reconstruction of droopy and large breasts is possible
Flexibility is offered to the plastic surgeon for molding the breasts
Many problems related to implants are set right
Fast recovery, short hospital stay and reduced pain
Routine activities can be resumed soon after the surgery
Enduring results
However, a patient should confirm beforehand whether he/she is the right candidate for this procedure. It is not suitable for women who suffer from heart ailments, lung disease, autoimmune disease or diabetes. However, the best outcomes are guaranteed only if the procedure is performed by an experienced and skilled surgeon.
The leading plastic surgeon at Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Center offers DIEP Flap breast reconstruction procedure as a solution to solve post-breast surgery issues, breast implant issues and congenital breast irregularities.
Reasons Why People Consider DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Monday, October 28, 2013
How is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Performed?
DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap reconstruction is advanced reconstructive surgery to mold the breasts using skin and fat from the patient’s abdomen. This procedure is widely opted for by women who have had a mastectomy, are seeking to correct congenital breast asymmetry. It is also the best option for women planning to have children, irradiated women, and those leading an active lifestyle. It’s important to know how DIEP breast reconstruction is performed so as to be prepared for the procedure.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction – the Procedure
The DIEP flap procedure was developed as an improvement over the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) procedure which involves removal of abdominal muscle. The surgeon first determines if you are a good candidate for this relatively minimally invasive surgery. The steps involved in DIEP flap surgery
• CT scans are performed to locate and identify blood sources within the abdominal tissue. These scans will help the surgeon decide the patient’s candidature for the surgery
• The patient is put under general anesthesia
• The plastic surgeon makes an incision in the muscle and removes a flap of skin from the lower abdominal region, which contains tiny blood vessels, skin and subcutaneous tissue. No muscle is removed
• The surgeon performs microsurgery to transfer the free flap to the chest and connect it to the blood vessels there
• The flap is used to mold new breast mounds
• The nipples and areolas are created or reconstructed as necessary
By sparing the rectus muscle, DIEP flap reconstruction ensures that there are no abdominal complications such as structural weakness in abdominal walls.
This prevents abdominal herniation.
Advantages of DIEP Breast Reconstruction Surgery
DIEP flap reconstruction ensures many benefits when compared to other methods:
• Natural-looking and soft breasts
• Keeps all the abdominal muscles intact to ensure abdominal strength
• Reduces donor site trauma such as abdominal herniation, bulging and weakness
• Ideal for women needing replacement of a large amount of breast skin, reconstruction of both breasts and the delayed reconstruction of a large, droopy breast
• Use of the patient’s own tissues allows the surgeon more freedom to design and shape the breasts to meet the patient’s goals
• Short hospital stay of 3-4 days, with healing time of 4-5 weeks
• Comparatively faster recovery than with TRAM breast reconstruction surgery
One of the major additional benefits of DIEP flap reconstruction is that the removal of fat and tissue from the abdomen offers a tummy effect.
The Right Plastic Surgeon
Only a surgeon with vast experience in reconstructive plastic surgery can offer the desired results for DIEP flap breast reconstruction. So choose your surgeon wisely. If you are having a mastectomy, it may be a good idea to see a plastic surgeon first, so that he gets an idea about your natural breasts and how you want your new, reconstructed breasts to look. In fact, the success of the DIEP flap procedure largely depends on the skill and expertise of your surgeon as well as on your health.
Dr. Sean Boutros at the AAASF certified Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Center in Houston, TX performs safe DIEP flap breast reconstruction. For more details visit http://www.drseanboutros.com/diep-flap-breast-reconstruction.html
How is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Performed?
Thursday, October 24, 2013
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction ? Less Abdominal Discomfort
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is a cosmetic procedure that utilizes tissue from the midsection for recreation of the breast; the procedure involves considerably less abdominal discomfort. This innovative surgical procedure is a great relief for women who have had a mastectomy, and wish to regain natural-looking breasts.
Autologous Tissue Reconstruction
DIEP stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator. It is the name of blood vessels of the patient’s own abdominal area that are used to supply blood to the new natural appearing breast mounds. The tissue extracted from the donor site includes abdominal fat and skin along with the inferior epigastric perforator blood vessels. No muscles or fascia is removed from the abdomen; therefore the discomfort after the surgfery is reduced, as are the chances of hernia formation at the abdominal area.
The harvested tissue is surgically introduced to the chest exactly at the region where the breast should lie. Blood vessels from the chest are also connected to that of the DIEP flap for proper blood flow. Reconstruction of nipples is the next stage which is done with local tissue flaps on the breast. For some, the nipples are augmented with a small piece of cartilage. The third and final stage is the tattooing of the areola complex. This is a rather simple procedure that can be performed in an office setting.
A procedure with Results that Last a Lifetime
DIEP flap procedure for breast reconstruction is far safer with a greater rate of success when compared to the TRAM flap. The surgery is gaining popularity as it is least complicated or risky when performed by experienced surgeons in a well-equipped surgical facility. The reconstructed breast looks realistic and feels natural. Moreover, the results can last a lifetime without the need for any follow-up procedure.
There are certain limitations for the DIEP flap procedure. Patients who have undergone a prior abdominoplasty or similar procedure may not qualify as candidates.
DIEP Flap Procedure for Natural-looking Breasts
Women who chose to undergo DIEP flap breast reconstruction benefit from natural looking breasts and an improved bust contour. Moreover, the surgery causes remarkably less abdominal discomfort. Those considering breast reconstruction should consult a specialist and discuss how this modern day procedure can help them.
Breast Reconstruction Houston – Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery the office of Dr. Sean Boutros provides numerous cosmetic and reconstructive procedures including breast reconstruction, microtia,rhinoplasty etc.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction ? Less Abdominal Discomfort
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Innovative DIEP Flap Procedure for Breast Reconstruction
The occurrence of breast cancer can be a life changing experience for women; leaving them with not only physical but also emotional scars. The advancement of surgical techniques and breast reconstruction procedures has made a real difference regarding breast reconstruction after breast cancer. The innovative DIEP Flap reconstruction procedure, is fast gaining popularity due to its many benefits.
DIEP Procedure Is Less Traumatic and Innovative in Approach
DIEP is the newest form of flap procedures of breast reconstruction. It is a revolutionary technique as it does not involve removal or injury to the abdominal muscles. Following mastectomy, a free flap is taken from the lower abdomen and moved up to the chest. The blood vessels are also moved to give the new breast its own natural blood flow. For this, microsurgery is required which is done with the help of a microscope. This requires careful handling of the blood vessels that are to be joined to the new breast. At the same time, the abdominal area from where the skin flap taken, is sutured, mimicking the benefits of a mini tummy. The abdominal incision be made along the abdominal folds to avoid prominent scars and proper repositioning of the belly button, may be required. The abdominal area is closed using sutures or adhesive and the skin flap is contoured to form a natural looking breast.
Excessive Care Is Needed to Perform the DIEP Procedure
Being a relatively new procedure, there are few plastic surgery centers offering the DIEP flap procedure.
Extremely skilled hands are required to perform a DIEP flap. It is expected that the many benefits of this technique will make it continue to increase its popularity in the coming years, as many women are acquainted with the DIEP technique.
The innovative DIEP Flap procedure for breast reconstruction is helping many women to overcome the trauma of mastectomy with a successful breast reconstruction, that offers natural looking, superior results.
Breast Reconstruction Houston – Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Centre provides numerous procedures, but is especially dedicated to rhinoplasty, facelift, breast reconstruction, craniofacial surgery and more.
Innovative DIEP Flap Procedure for Breast Reconstruction
Friday, October 11, 2013
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction ? Faster Recovery
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is the revolutionary procedure that has come to be accepted as the gold standard in autologous tissue transplantation. The new technique allows faster recovery for patients, with limited downtime and recovery when compared to the more invasive TRAM flap procedure. Women with congenital absence of breasts or those who have undergone mastectomy can now hope to attain a new breast contoured to look and feel natural.
Breast Reconstruction Procedure
In the DIEP flap procedure, plastic surgeons surgically remove skin and fat from the lower abdomen. The extracted tissue is surgically reattached to the chest. The blood vessels from the flap are connected with those in the chest with the help of a microscope to facilitate proper blood flow. Unlike TRAM flap technique, no muscle or fascia is removed; therefore this reduces the morbidity of the donor site.
The next stage of breast reconstruction is the recreation of the nipple. Nipple reconstruction may be done with local tissue flaps on the breast or using a small piece of cartilage. The last and final procedure is the tattooing of the areola complex.
The chances of failure of the procedure are low, especially if it is performed by a highly qualified and skilled plastic surgeon that has extensive experience in the field. Such surgeons also ensure that the patient’s level of comfort is constantly maintained.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and all precautions are taken to minimize any pain and discomfort to the patient, during the procedure or in the recovery period.
Most patients make a full recovery in little more than a month’s time after which they can fully resume normal activities. They would be able to climb stairs one week after DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. However, they have to refrain from any labor intensive work so that the healing process is not impeded or complicated.
Reduced Risk of Complications
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is a procedure where no artificial implants are used, hence decreasing the risk of complications. Not everyone may qualify as good candidate for the procedure but those who do can attain excellent results and take advantage of a faster recovery.
Breast Reconstruction Houston – Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery, the office of Dr. Sean Boutros provides numerous cosmetic and reconstructive procedures including breast reconstruction, microtia,rhinoplasty etc.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction ? Faster Recovery