Hi - I am really panicking about the DIEP surgery this morning and seriously considering changing to an implant. I think this is an option. I have not been advised against implants, but pretty early on my surgeon assessed that I was suitable for DIEP and encouraged me down that route I would say. The appointments I had at the plastic surgeons where very brief like 5 minutes and again focussed on whether I was a suitable candidate. CT scan etc. Rather than an opportunity to get o tknwo the surgeon and ask questions. I have really found out about what will happen / likely outcomes on forums like here ( very grateful!). I am Looking for some advice and seeing whether anyone else has done the same. Changed at the last minute or Panicked and still gone through with it. I am so scared of the op - mainly the recovery! Does the implant option really have that many drawbacks in the long term compared to DIEP? Thanks so much.
Depends on what you consider drawbacks. It’s an entirely different procedure. From what my surgeon told me you can expect a much easier recovery of course. However. you can also expect to have to change out your implant every 15 years or so, it will feel different and will not have quite the same aesthetic look as a DIEP. A diep can imitate pretty exactly what a real breast looks like. An implant can’t although some people may prefer that look. Then of course there are rare side effects associated with implants including breast implant illness. I know a very rare cancer is associated with a certain implant, too, but I don’t think they use that type of implant in reconstruction. It could be worth checking out though. And over the long term studies show women seemed more satisfied with a DIEP than with implants.
I’ll tell you why I chose a DIEP over an implant. I like the idea of my own body being used to replace the breasts and it being permanent. I figure over the long term it will be a healthier choice for me even as the recovery part will suck. But there’s no wrong answer. It’s whatever you decide works best for your lifestyle.
Youve probably already made your decision by now & I really wouldnt want to advise you either way .
All I can tell you is I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction ,diep with tissue from my stomach .
That was Dec 2016, I have been very happy with results .
I wanted tissue from my own body rather than implant. I didnt want to have to worry about another implant 10/15 years later .
I was also told the implant would sit higher up in the chest and would not drop with gravity or age therefore this would alter the asymmetry of my breasts .
I was able to have a mastoplexy on my opposite side a year later so within 16 months Id had the mastectomy with recon, a mastoplexy & nipple formation on the mastectomy breast .
The initial recovery time was probably about four to five months as the tissue was from my stomach & I compared it to when Id had a hysterectomy years earlier. I went off work in the Dec & went back in May which was 6 months in total . I have a job which involves a lot of manual handling so I was cautious.
Its a massive life changing event & you wouldnt be normal if you werent worrying about it . Im sure youll made the right decision .