DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

I am from Austin, Texas. I was diagnosed with DCIS in my right breast in August of 2010. My mother had breast cancer, so I always kind of expected it, but nothing prepared me for actually hearing the words. I was given the option to have a lumpectomy and radiation, but I knew that I would always worry about cancer coming back, and I had seen the damage that radiation could do. I began looking at other options, but didn’t like any of them. I didn’t know what to do, so I finally talked to a plastic surgeon friend and he directed me to the PRMA website. When I saw the DIEP flap procedure, I knew that it was the right choice for me.

I live in Austin, TX, but I have a wonderful husband/caregiver, so the travel was not a problem. I had my bilateral mastectomy and immediate DIEP flap the day before my birthday in September of 2010. I told the hospital staff that this was my birthday present; getting rid of cancer, getting a breast reduction, and getting a tummy tuck. I thought I would be terrified, but everyone had told me how great Dr. Ledoux was and how wonderful the hospital staff was, so after Dr. Ledoux prayed with me, I was ready to go. I won’t say that recovery was easy, but it wasn’t near as bad as I thought it could be. They do everything they can to reduce the pain. There was more discomfort from the drain than pain. By the second day, I was off the pain meds. I went back to Austin after 4 days and was back to work in 4 weeks.

Prior to the revision surgery, Dr. Ledoux was concerned about my overall health. I was quite a bit overweight and he encouraged me to lose about 50 lbs before the revisions. He suggested I go to Medi-Weightloss here in Austin, so my husband and I started the program. I lost the weight and was able to get off all of my medications. I had been diabetic and had high blood pressure. On the day of my revision surgery, Dr. Ledoux had to take a double-take and didn’t even recognize my husband. I spent one night in the hospital after the revisions, but never took any pain meds. I went back to work the following week. Three months later I had my nipples done and 3 months after that I got tattooed. Thanks to Dr. Ledoux and the staff at PRMA, I not only got rid of cancer, got a breast reduction and a tummy tuck, but I am also no longer diabetic, my blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is normal and I am healthier than I have ever been! They saved my life in so many ways.