Forum Discussion
Negative impact of radiation on Flap (autologous) reconstruction??
Hi all, will have mastectomy in a couple of months time, am considering to have an immediate breast reconstruction (IBC) using my own tissues/ flap (autologous). Unfortunately, I will have a series of...
Hi @aimsagi
I had a mastectomy and due to the size of my tumour my specialist team recommended I would need radiotherapy.
My plastic surgeon advised that having the reconstruction ( I had DIEP flap using my tummy fat) before the radiotherapy would damage the result so I had a skin sparing mastectomy with insertion of a tissue expander and then the reconstruction surgery 8 months after the radiotherapy was completed ( my plastic surgeon said I needed to wait at least 6 months).
This meant 2 surgeries and I found the tissue expander quite uncomfortable but the result I was very happy with - I ended up getting a mastectomy on the other breast when I had the reconstruction so I had both sides reconstructed and had symmetry.
My story and photos along with many others are in the private group on here “ Choosing breast reconstruction” .
I had a mastectomy and due to the size of my tumour my specialist team recommended I would need radiotherapy.
My plastic surgeon advised that having the reconstruction ( I had DIEP flap using my tummy fat) before the radiotherapy would damage the result so I had a skin sparing mastectomy with insertion of a tissue expander and then the reconstruction surgery 8 months after the radiotherapy was completed ( my plastic surgeon said I needed to wait at least 6 months).
This meant 2 surgeries and I found the tissue expander quite uncomfortable but the result I was very happy with - I ended up getting a mastectomy on the other breast when I had the reconstruction so I had both sides reconstructed and had symmetry.
My story and photos along with many others are in the private group on here “ Choosing breast reconstruction” .