What is the recovery time for DIEP flap reconstruction?
What is the recovery time for DIEP flap reconstruction?
It can take about 6 to 8 weeks to recover from DIEP flap reconstruction surgery. Your doctor may recommend that you wear a compression girdle for up to 8 weeks after surgery.
Is DIEP flap surgery painful?
Although the DIEP flap procedure is more invasive and requires a longer surgery than traditional (subpectoral) tissue expander/implant reconstruction, DIEP flap patients experience less pain for a couple of reasons: Minimal muscle trauma.
Why is my stomach so hard after DIEP flap surgery?
Ultimately, abdominal tightness usually improves as the scar tissue matures. Because a portion of tummy tissue is removed and transplanted to the chest wall during this procedure, most patients experience some degree of abdominal tightness following surgery as the abdominal skin stretches to its “new normal.”
When can I lay flat after DIEP flap surgery?
DIEP Flap breast reconstruction patients need to sleep on their backs for the first two weeks after surgery. Side sleeping is allowed after two weeks and stomach sleeping after four weeks. The reason being is that these positions put pressure on the healing breast tissue and incisions.
Do you lose weight after DIEP flap?
If you lose weight after DIEP surgery, your reconstructed breasts will likely decrease in size as well. This change may be minimally noticeable or drastic, depending on how your body reacts to weight loss.
What is Phase 2 of DIEP flap?
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is typically comprised of at least two stages for the best outcomes. The second stage of surgery is commonly referred to as the “revision” stage and is usually performed about three months after the initial reconstruction.
How much fat do you need for DIEP flap?
There is also an upper limit beyond which the risks of surgery typically outweigh the benefits – At PRMA we set an upper BMI limit of 40. Research performed at PRMA has shown that performing the procedure on women with a BMI over 40 significantly increases the risk of complications (especially wound healing problems).
How do you get out of bed after DIEP flap?
Starts here0:51How to get out of bed after DIEP surgery – YouTubeYouTube
Should you lose weight before DIEP flap?
Should I gain weight prior to my DIEP flap breast reconstruction? For the majority of patients, the answer to this question is no. Because weight gain occurs fairly uniformly over the entire body, it does little to add volume to the abdomen and instead makes closure at the donor site tighter and more prone to problems.
Does DIEP flap lose weight?
How many phases does DIEP flap surgery have?
