Topic: DIEP Problems

I had my surgery last summer, and I had a large hard area on one side that is slowly softening up and shrinking as the months go by.  I also had a long narrow strip of hard tissue on the other side that felt like it was along the edge of the flap, and it is now mostly gone too.   I think that in time, your breast will soften up and you'll have the result you hoped for!

Hi Sabrinayb,

I can relate -- I had unilateral DIEP in Oct/07 and had a rock hard boob for about 4 months.   I also had complications of a hematoma and an open wound like Juls.   I was very depressed -- felt the same as you -- was looking forward to a nice, soft, natural feeling DIEP bood and got a "rock boob" as well.

Well, it is now almost 7 months post-op and my "rock boob" is actually much better.   I have had stage II and got rounded out a bit and some of the hardness has improved.   It is not gone entirely -- still an area on the right side, mostly near where I had the infection and open wound, but it is getting better all the time.   Initially the whole boob, except for the circle, was hard.   Now most of it is soft -- so there is hope.   It just takes longer for some of us.

While some of the hardness may be fat necrosis, I think most of mine is actually scar tissue and that can soften over time.   Keep massaging...I was also concerned that it would have to be removed and would leave a huge dent, but that is not the case.   I had some lipo in stage II, had the scar from the infection fixed and it looks much better.    It is now almost 3 months post-op from stage II and I still see improvement.   Right after stage II I had some additional hardness from the surgery, but it went away.

Hang in there.....I know it is depressing.   You should read some of my old posts....I almost hated to log on and read about everyone else's soft DIEP boobs....but I think you will eventually see improvement.

M.

I am so glad I am not the only one!

My left breast has fallen and it perfect. My right one is about in my throat. By the end of the day I have limited mibility on my right arm. I have already had a 2nd surgery for fat necrosis but 4 days after, my right breast filled back up and is hard as a rock. It is nice to know that what my PS is telling me is true. "It will soften up over time" But I am getting irritated with it. I feel like I am holding a basketball on my right side. It is preventing me from doing things, especially by days end.

So I just need to be patient I guess. I made an appt this morning with my PS for tomorrow because I am getting ticked off at the hardness of the breast. I guess it is normal for some us though. Sigh.

Did anyone have chemo while their breast was still hard? My Onc was heistant to start anything until I am completely better. But PS said it will be months before that breast is better. I don't have that kind of time to wait.

Any side effects to the hard breast during chemo?

Ok, you guys are scaring me.  I have to get a masectomy and want immediate reconstructive.  I don't want to have to get an implant on my good side to even out the other side, I don't want to have to replace implants every 15 yrs and I don't want to mess with my core muscles. I thought the DIEP was my best option.  Is it common to have problems with this option? Is the issue with the skill of the surgeons? Luck of the draw with how your body reacts?  If you all had to do it again would you still choose the DIEP?

Karen - If I had to do it all over again I would definitely NOT do the Diep surgery - I would have just gone flat. I had my immediate Diep surgery after a unilaterial mastectomy on March 3rd - and I'm STILL packing a large abdominal wound twice a day (it was caused by stress to my stomach and a staph infection.) My stomach is also very swollen - it looks like I'm 7 months pregnant (some days I feel like I'm 9 months pregnant - it's so distended and rock-hard.) In addition - even though most of my foob is soft, there are hard parts - it's a football shape, it's too big - most of it is under my arm and it's too heavy. My natural breast is only a "barely B" - the new foob is probably a D or DD. My plastic surgeon has said the foob will get smaller when the "swelling" goes down - but my breast cancer surgeon AND my lymphedema therapist have both said there IS no swelling in the foob - it's all tissue. I'll be seeing my PS today and will try to get the truth out of him. He needs to acknowledge that the size of the breast will not change until Stage 2 - and hopefully I won't get any more infections with that surgery.

Karen I hate to scare you - but the reality is, the tram surgeries are MAJOR events - you'll need a lot of recuperation time - and complications can and DO happen, even to very healthy and fit people. You'll have to sign many pages of release forms before the surgery - read them over carefully and be SURE you are willing to go through months of recuperation, just in case you are one of the unlucky ones to get a problem. I'm sure I'll be fine this time next year - but who knew I'd need soooo much time to get back to normal? If I knew then what I know now - I would have just gone flat. Actually I'm going to tell my PS that if he can't reshape the foob to the size I want, then he should just remove it once and for all - I want my old life back.

Karen again I'm sorry if I'm giving you the "dark side" - but it's important to know these complications exist. Be sure to do TONS of research. I posted a link to a webcast of a Diep surgery done at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan - if you're not too squeamish, you'll see exactly what's involved. Here's the link again:

http://www.or-live.com/bethisrael/1896/index.cfm?r=orlive

 Good luck with your decision Karen!

Oh and Sabrina - I'm so sorry you're going through this trouble - you are NOT alone and I share your disappointment and frustration with healing. Stay in touch and let me know how you feel - maybe we'll both be much happier in another 12 months - time will tell.

P.S. I just found this interesting question/answer web site from John Hopkins - discussing problems after tram flaps - it'll make you aware of other problems women have experienced with this surgery. I found it interesting that they say it can take up to TWO years for your stomach to finally feel normal!

http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/services/ask_expert/index.asp?cat=8

Well, I had a MS free TRAM rather than a DIEP as that was what my surgeon was most experienced with.  Done on March 27, 2008 to replace a silicone implant that was still rock hard after seven months, probably due to having had rads on that side 15 years prior.

I did have a few touch and go days where the flap was not draining properly and they didn't know if it would survive, BUT IT DID.

Here we are almost two months later and all has healed well, including the abd. wound.  No swelling, no pain, no loss of muscle strength (I am back to lifting 50 pound bags of grain for my animals), no infection, no dog ears.

While my flap breast does still have some hard areas, it is softening beautifully and both my PS and I are very happy.  Stage II probably won't be until September.

That's my story.  I know it all sounds scary and there are no guarantees but most outcomes are good.  You have to decide whether it is something you want to take the chance on.  It IS a chance but the odds are good, provided you are a good candidate.  Your PS will evaluate you for that.  Best wishes.

I didn't have any complications at all through stage I and stage II DIEP. I had a couple of hard spots after stage I but my PS told me to massage them and they are totally gone.  Both foobs are soft and giggly.

I agree with MAMHOP that many women who have had successful DIEPs don't post. I'm here to tell you that I am thrilled with my results and even though the recovery from stage I is a bear, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I went for a year with only one breast and hated it.