Best Of

@viehmannkl Sorry for the late reply - I'm not this site as frequently these days. I had a BMX with immediate DIEP flap recon 5 1/2 years ago - I was 62, in good health other than the BC, but not very fit and had only quit smoking less than 6 months before the surgery. I did have some wound healing issues and a lot of post-operative sensitivity and nerve pain for several months but all cleared up in less than a year. Because of my issues I took off from work for 2 full months, then worked part time for a few weeks before going back full-time (desk job and work was 100% remote at that time during pandemic). Had fat grafting twice - note that you will not be able to assess the results and determine if fat grafting is needed for around 5 to 6 months - my PS wouldn't talk about revision, fat grafts until that point in time. Minimal discomfort, a little bruising from the 2 fat grafts which were done 1 year and around 18 months after initial surgery. Despite everything I am so glad I opted for DIEP, recon breasts look and feel natural to the touch (no real breast sensation to me of course, just skin sensation). A few recommendations - you won't be able to lift anything more than 5 pounds or raise up arms above shoulder for like 2 week - put whatever you need at counter height - I totally cluttered my dining room table and kitchen counters and very glad I did so. Accept all the help your family and friends offer - don't be 'strong' or 'brave' - you need to heal, then you can reciprocate when you are well again. If you don't have a power recliner chair consider renting one - I slept in mine for 6 weeks at least. Your insurance should pay for a walker - you'll need one for a few weeks, a raised toilet seat frame - you'll need that too, and hopefully visiting nurse and in-home physical therapy as mine did for a few weeks - the social worker at your hospital will be able to help, contact the social worker beforehand if you can to get things rolling. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days - that is the standard of care in UK and Canada and I pushed my insurance company to cover it and they did. I really think that helped a lot with the initial healing. If you don't already have a 'breast/chest buddy' type cushion and travel by car consider getting one - I didn't see that brand on Amazon anymore but saw this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJ4TRR7/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B0DDJ4TRR7&pd_rd_w=WqBzJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.bbb3fb5e-28ad-4062-a3ba-1f7b9f2e4371&pf_rd_p=bbb3fb5e-28ad-4062-a3ba-1f7b9f2e4371&pf_rd_r=5EDK51H5C1HYEKJ7NSTS&pd_rd_wg=6zmgR&pd_rd_r=d4f6871e-9dab-457f-beff-66e599ff1d67&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1 For showering you'll want a drain holder - I had so many drains...waterproof fabric is best for when you shower, hopefully you have this from the first surgery or are handy and can make one or find one online. I mostly lived in loose, flowing housedresses for the first 6 weeks, wore loose wide band yoga pants and loose button-down shirts when I needed to go out. Boy-cut leg, high-cut waist cotton underpants worked best, at least a size larger than usual. You'll be quite swollen in the belly as well as the recon breasts. This front-close bra worked best for me after I ditched the post-surgical bra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9MWZ6E?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&psc=1 I had to wear a terribly uncomfortable binder for many weeks post-surgery - I wore a men's large cotton T short under it because my skin and nerves belly area became very sensitive as I mentioned. I was allowed to switch to a spanx-like garment, high waist, for the compression - this one worked well for although I see current reviews aren't very good, again, get something like this assuming your PS wants compression, Order a really large size. My usual size in clothes is medium, at time of surgery I was 5'2 and close to 160 lbs to maximize available fat. I've heard there are some PS that don't require compression think that is rare, anyway here's the garment and I ordered size "X-Large to XX-Large" for reference - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V535SSC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&psc=1

Hope everything goes well for you and please don't be put off by what I had in terms of healing - you are far younger, hopefully never smoked and with 2 young children very likely more fit than me, and I have even read about some women around my age who were back to close to normal activity within a month. Best wishes for a quick recovery and good outcome! Any question feel free to message me.