DIEP 18

Age:                          43

Diagnosis:                Breast cancer

Radiation:                 Yes

Reconstruction:        DIEP flap (R)

Timing:                      Delayed

Flap placement:       Subcutaneous

Opposite breast:      No surgery

Nipple:                      Nipple sharing from opposite side (awaiting areolar tattoo)

Comment:                This is a ‘delayed’ reconstruction: it was performed long after the mastectomy. In these cases, it usually necessary to use the abdominal skin to augment the breast skin. In ‘immediate’ reconstructions (performed at the same time as the mastectomy) this is not necessary and most of the DIEP flap is ‘buried’ beneath the native breast skin. There is usually less visible scarring in immediate reconstructions