DIEP flap breast reconstruction is helpful to reconstruct the breast when there has been previous tissue expander or implant infection. When the mastectomy defect is reconstructed with DIEP flaps the patients own body tissue is used. This is called an autologous breast reconstruction. The primary source of tissue to reconstruct the breast is the tissue from the lower abdomen. This is the tissue that is normally discarded in an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck operation. The first step in the reconstruction is to re-create the mastectomy defect. Once the mastectomy defect is re-created, the internal mammary vessels are isolated. The abdominal flaps are then harvested and brought to the chest wall for reconstruction. The abdominal donor site is closed in a similar fashion to an abdominoplasty operation.
About Brian Dickinson
Dr. Dickinson is a Board Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon operating out of Newport Beach, California. He believes that the reconstructive and aesthetic surgical principles appropriately complement each other and share's his techniques and advice freely.
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