Anybody had scar reduction surgery following diep recon please?

[Duffer56]

I had DIEP 7 months ago and bad seroma in tummy scar. Tummy was really, really tight and scar felt like a length of rope under it.
I have been seeing an osteopath for past 3 months who has been massaging scar weekly for me and it is so much better. X

[Guest user]

Mepiform is meant to be really good for scars. Hope it helps you get the result you want. Best Wishes, Lesley x

[Nottsgal]

Thanks Saffronseed and May / Lesley. I'm using mepiform on the scars at the moment - as recommended by surgeon. It's like tape. I will be having nipple op at some point so I guess I could have the stomach scar redone then if I decide to go ahead

[Guest user]

Last msg also for you Nottsgal.... Sorry I've got brain fog today!
L x

[Guest user]

Hi Saffronseed, I had DIEP flap in 2006, followed by reduction 2007 to my 'good' boob, along with revision op to lower tummy to even out the wavy uneven tummy I'd been left with from DIEP op, I had my hip to hip scar reopened during this op, and a little bit of upper end below belly button was removed so I got lovely even flat tummy in the end.
I ended up with areas of raised thick scar tissue, including around recon breast but I declined using steroid cream, as my BS warned me it can cause thinning of skin. I opted instead to use Bio oil (Primark sell it at the mo for £5.20, which is very cheap), I massaged it into all my scars twice a day, and within a few weeks, they had begun to fade. Even the raised thicker scars were much flatter. My scars are barely visible now, and my skin is soft. I still use it once a day, its also a good all body moisturizer.
Was recommended to me by fellow mastectomy patient in same hosp ward as me.
Worth a try anyway.
Wishing you a good recovery 🙂
Lesley x

[saffronseed]

Hi Notts gal I had a diep nearly 2 years ago and like you my scaring is bad I too had an infection and had to re opened and restitched which didn't help. My surgeon re did the scars on my breast as they were quite raised and angry they didn't hurt me but didn't look good. My tummy scars he left but injected with sterioids. I have had too injections so far and it has made them very much less red and almost smooth. He said they will fade almost completely in time. I let him re do my scar on my breast even though I was aprehensive about it but I felt well he is a surgeon and he knows best! - I think sometimes the PS's are perfectionists and they do like a very good cosmetic appearance/finish for their work (almost like artists I think). It is a difficult decision - I was having surgery anyhow to for lypo and nipple so he did the 're scaring' at the same time so it was not extra surgery. My tummy is still a bit tight though and I think always will be but it does feel better since the injections.

[Nottsgal]

Hi all, I had a diep recon just less than a year ago. I am delighted with the result - I have a cleavage again 🙂 I have just seen my surgeon for the 12 month check up and to arrange for my good boob to be lifted and reduced slightly to match the one he created in the diep. The surgeon said if I wanted he could cut out my stomach scar and re-stitch as the scarring is very bad. Part of the reason it is bad is because I had a couple of infections in the scar and obviously this could happen again. But I am tempted to say I want it done because the whole scar line across my stomach is tight and a bit uncomfortable. Does this get better further out after a year? And has anyone else had their stomach scar cut out and been re-stitched? If so, how was it in terms of recovery time, infections etc? I don't care one way or the other about the look of the scar as I don't wear skimpy bikinis, so if I have the scar cut out and re-done it will be to try to reduce the tightness / stiffness but what if I end up trailing back and forth to the wound clinic with infections? Don't know what to do. Thanks all who read x