Breast Reconstruction, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Conroe, North Houston

Most women consider breast reconstruction after mastectomy for the emotional benefits common with breast restoration. DIEP flap breast reconstruction is one of several procedures available to create a natural looking breast using your own skin and fat. This can be accomplished without removing abdominal muscle tissue and without breast implants.

What is DIEP Flap Reconstruction?

DIEP flap breast reconstruction utilizes the excess fat and skin from the lower abdomen from the belly button, isolating the tissue to just the feeding blood vessels.

The DIEP blood vessels (deep inferior epigastric perforators or “DIEP”), and the fat and skin connected to them are detached from the lower abdomen. The tissue is then moved to the chest wall. This tissue is connected to blood vessels from the chest wall using advanced microvascular surgery.

This DIEP flap reconstruction leaves the abdominal wall muscles intact to minimize abdominal weakness and possibly decrease the risks for hernia formation or bulging. The DIEP flap and the TRAM flap breast reconstruction can give patients an aesthetically pleasing tummy tuck closure from where the tissue was taken on the abdomen.

click the image for a larger view of the DIEP Flap diagram

Visit Dr. Kim’s breast reconstruction website for more DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction resources:

• DIEP Flap breast reconstruction before & after photos
• More information about the DIEP Flap procedure
• Breast reconstruction patient stories

Click to schedule a consultation with The Woodlands breast reconstruction surgeon Dr. Sugene Kim, or call us at 281-363-4546.