Who has had both implants and DIEP?
I had a direct to implant BMX with 535cc silicone implants in October 2021, followed by radiation on my left side in June 2022. I had fat grafting in June 2023 to try and break up/loosen the radiated tissue, with limited success.
My chest feels heavy, cold, and tight, especially on my radiated side. My boobs look fantastic, but I'm uncomfortable 24/7. My back and neck hurt, and I'm not convinced my body likes the implants.
My surgeon is offering the DIEP, but it sounds a little intense. I like the idea of having my own natural tissues, and I certainly have the tummy pouch to contribute. Part of my concern is that I developed an infection after fat grafting and was hospitalized for several days, and I'd hate to have the same thing happen again. I also worry about looking even more like Frankenstein's monster with scarring and such.
Any insights?
Comments
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I didn’t have implants (had immediate DIEP recon when I had BMX) but if you search for the thread “2018 DIEP Surgery” which helped me a lot when I had my surgery, you’ll see a lot of women on there had implants first so maybe you’ll get some relevant info.
Yes, the abdominal scar is big and my recovery took a while but very pleased with outcome
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