What can patients do if they are unhappy with their implant breast reconstruction?
17 months ago, Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. She opted to have a double mastectomy, and like many women, quickly chose implant reconstruction before learning about ALL her reconstructive options. Soon after her surgery, Michelle began to experience discomfort due to her implants.
After taking time to research all her options, Michelle chose to travel from Cheboygan, Michigan to PRMA in San Antonio, Texas to remove her implants and undergo DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
Immediately after surgery, she felt relief! She no longer felt the discomfort in her shoulders she had once endured.
Although implant reconstruction is a good option for many women, we routinely see patients from across the globe who are unhappy with their results. At PRMA, we recommend replacing implants with healthy living tissue through procedures like the DIEP flap.
The DIEP flap uses a patient’s own living skin and fatty tissue from the lower abdomen (similar to a tummy tuck) to reconstruct a breast. Providing patients with soft, warm and natural results, the newly reconstructed breast is also permanent and will never have to be replaced.
Thanks to our ERAS protocol, patients are healing faster and experiencing little pain following DIEP flap surgery. Just like Michelle, our DIEP flap patients are able to go home 2-3 days following surgery and rarely need to use prescribed narcotics for pain.
Michelle shares in the video below how she wishes someone would have told her the DIEP flap was an option for her from the beginning of her journey! We believe patients should be informed off ALL their options before having a mastectomy. By doing so, patients can be certain they are making an informed decision that best fits their needs.
Considering breast reconstruction and want to learn more about ALL your options? Fill out our FREE Virtual Consultation form today!
Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and Courtney Floyd
After taking time to research all her options, Michelle chose to travel from Cheboygan, Michigan to PRMA in San Antonio, Texas to remove her implants and undergo DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
Leave Comment
I had silicone implants following b/c in 2001. I have hated them always but in more recent years have had inflammation on one side and musle pain in both
I would like to explore the diep reconstruction but I am worried my ppo health insurance will not cover the cost. Can this be covered in health plan?
July 21,2020
Hello Colette! So sorry to hear you are experiencing all of these complications with your implants! You are not alone! Your insurance will likely cover the removal of implants and further DIEP flap breast reconstruction. We would of course request authorization from your insurance provider before surgery to be 100% sure. Please feel free to give us a call any time at 800-692-5565 to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss your options.
July 21,2020
Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter
Continue Reading
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period December 02, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin During our pre-operative appointment with patients, a topic that occasionally arises is menstrual cycles. It is completely normal for women to experience changes with their periods throughout breast cancer treatments. These can be temporary or permanent. Periods can be unpredictable following […]
What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery
What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery November 17, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin When preparing for breast reconstruction surgery, many patients want to know what types of bras and abdominal girdles they should plan to wear after surgery. Although every surgeon has slightly different preferences, we have put together […]
My 5 DIEP Flap Realities | A Guest Blog From Julie
My 5 DIEP Flap Realities October 28, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hi everyone, my name is Julie from It’s a Bosom Thing. I am so happy to be here as a guest blogger and have this opportunity to share with you a few thoughts about life after DIEP Flap Surgery. I was diagnosed […]
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yesterday we celebrated Breast Reconstruction Awareness day! Although we missed seeing everyone in person this year, we were still able to spread education and awareness on ALL reconstructive options through our virtual efforts. We were also able to share information on […]
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin 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. The purpose […]
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them?
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Flap-based breast reconstruction procedures, like the DIEP flap, offer patients a safe, natural implant-alternative option to reconstruction after a mastectomy. Flap surgeries are permanent and are associated with fewer complications after radiation when […]
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction?
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What is a “skin island”? The term “skin island” is used to describe the remaining visible skin from a transplanted “flap” of tissue. In the setting of DIEP flap breast reconstruction, the skin island […]
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction August 10, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin We have been receiving numerous inquiries about the “APEX flap” recently. Patients want to know what it is and how it differs from the DIEP flap. APEX is an acronym that stands for “Abdominal Perforator Exchange”. Many patients believe […]
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Autologous flap (or tissue) breast reconstruction procedures represent today’s most advanced options for rebuilding a breast(s) following mastectomy. The most commonly performed method of flap-based reconstruction at PRMA is the DIEP flap. During this procedure, surgeons transplant skin […]
COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality
COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin There is still so much we do not know about COVID-19. Likewise, there is little known about how this disease impacts mortality for cancer patients. A study published in The Lancet evaluated and characterized the outcomes of patients with cancer […]
Recovery After Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Don’t Let Body Image Concerns Limit Breast Cancer Screenings
Colette
I had silicone implants following b/c in 2001. I have hated them always but in more recent years have had inflammation on one side and musle pain in both
I would like to explore the diep reconstruction but I am worried my ppo health insurance will not cover the cost. Can this be covered in health plan?
PRMA Plastic Surgery
Hello Colette! So sorry to hear you are experiencing all of these complications with your implants! You are not alone! Your insurance will likely cover the removal of implants and further DIEP flap breast reconstruction. We would of course request authorization from your insurance provider before surgery to be 100% sure. Please feel free to give us a call any time at 800-692-5565 to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discuss your options.