DIEP flaps are autologous tissue flap reconstructions where the tissue from the lower abdomen is transferred to chest using microsurgical techniques. The benefit of autologous tissue reconstruction is that the look and feel of the breast is natural and the reconstruction is durable.
One of the secondary benefits of the DIEP flap breast reconstruction is that as the lower abdominal tissue is transferred to the chest; the abdominal donor site is closed, allowing the patient to have a better abdominal contour. This improvement in abdominal contour is analogous to an abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” operation.
