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Excellent video. Thank you!

Grateful for your sharing. This has been a long road to find this answer.

Massage with Castro oil

I agree with the need for accurate information and avoiding the urban legends, etc. I find it overwhelming to sift through the journals and the technincal information to be too much. I am first looking to learn about the procedure itself and the pre and post aftermath. Somewhere in the middle, I want to understand a personal relevance as to what I can personally expect in my medical choice. I am a member of the DIEP-C Support group on Facebook. I have to sift through alot of "noise" and determine what is most valuable to me. I see comments that scare women away from making a decision about whether or not to pursue DIEP-Flap. I read and accessed photographs in order to help understand what to expect -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. I found it all very overwhelming and bottom line, how do you choose to whom to listen? I underwent my procedure on July 29, 2024. My surgeon was completely up front about some of the healing challenges I may face because of prior abdominal surgery. I am grateful for whatever information I was able to access and I am more grateful for the support provided by women who have had similar experiences as mine. It's tough to get the "real" story and I think that we have to be smart and well informed to determine our own best source. At the very least, it helps me to know what questions and clarifications to seek from my medical team.

HI just had my dIEP procedure on Oct 4rh. I'm having another surgery tomorrow and I'm not really sure why. I think it has to do with my abnominal scar. It weeps, I know I'll have more drains to tend to. I got rid of my last drain yesterday, I get one day off and I'll have 4 more to coddle and keep track of their progress or lack thereof. Maybe I'll name them. 😂 I had 6 plus 2 wound vacs after my first surgery. One of my nurses told me I was a mama possum and the drains were my babies. 🤣 Oh and if you're a little on the small size the surgeon might go looking for blood vessels, they took 3 from my left arm. I'm happy with the care I've been given, my surgeon is top-notch I'll be happy to update this as I continue my journey if anyone is interested.

After surgery, my back feels numb. It has been 3 weeks post surgery and doing all exercises advised but the numbness doesn’t go… any advice?

Can I bring pictures or is it more of a “get what you get” kind of thing? I have a vertical belly button and I really love it.

I am grateful for the surgeon’s openness!

Wow! For several years after my treatment I felt resentful towards the medical community. I felt they carelessly omitted to tell me all the side effects my body was going to go through, especially sexually. Being that I am married and was only 36 at breast cancer diagnosis. Surgeons and doctors take you apart and put you back together but they fail to help you transition into life after cancer. Life is never the same after that. In any way. No one can romanticize it for me.

I loved this video, Teri & I would be very interested in seeing a video to do with failed left & right diep flaps & if you can get new left & right microsurgical flaps. I appreciate your time & thank you!

I must come back and finish this video... I find the story just opposite of what I had to do, not by choice but by necessity. In 2009, after a cancer diagnosis where one breast had two sources of cancer, I opted for bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Unfortunately, despite numerous surgeries to try to establish blood flow, the flap failed. I had one side where the flap was successful. It was a heartwrenching decision I was forced to make... keep one flap and have an implant on the other side? Two implants? No implants? Typing this brings back a flood of memories. I look forward to finishing the video to hear the outcome. It is many years out from that time, but the implants I have still feel like a foreign body, too. And I want a change. Linda

I had a breast mastectomy and reconstruction due to breast cancer. My last major surgery was a year ago and I still feel a lot of pressure and uncomfortness with every move I make. I had months of physical therapy and it did not help much. I'm taking vitamin E and it helps a little. What would be your suggestion doctor? It's really really bothering me. 🙏🙏 Do you think acupuncture would help? Thank you for your help!

Teri, thank you so much for featuring Beth’s story and her work. Her artwork will speak to so many. I’m so proud to know both of you! Keep up the amazing work you’ve been doing! I will share widely!

Teri, keep these videos coming, it’s such important information!

I enjoyed the podcast very much however I was uncertain about if you were having a tissue transplant if you would use if you would use that grafting, I felt it was more about implants. Thank you.

What an incredible childhood story and how you got started. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you! This was very informative and helpful. 🙏🏾

Tks so much for explaining in detail!!!

How much weight did you need to lose?

Cold capping was not offered by promedica health services.

No way 😳 to not have pain meds . No way .

Can you start this procedure at the time of mastectomy? Thank you. This was very informative.

Amazing information! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for this helpful video. It was clear, detailed, and exactly what I needed!

Great video

Do you ever do gradual and small amounts of fat grafting as the only means of reconstructing a breast? I know this would take time, but would avoid implants and scars from flap surgery. Thank you!

Thanks so much. Very helpful for decision making process.

Thank you for sharing your stories. I am a B-cup sized woman and plan to have a double mastectomy. I am 5'4", 148lbs. Is there a decent chance that I may get a mastectomy without a mastectomy revision surgery? Thank you.

After radiation I had breast reduction so that I was symetrical again. No one mentioned the amount of shrinking there'd be from radiation. 9 years later I developed RIAS. I had a mastectomy and an expander was placed, not by my choice. Later a 2nd surgery was needed to remove that and put in the implant, while doing another reduction so that both sides were exactly the same. That didn't happen either. There was nothing about them that were symetrical. One year later I had a recurrence. I had done my research and had opted for AFC and found a surgeon on Not Putting on a Shirt. My surgeon was awesome and I'm totally happy with the results. No emotional turmoil as I had with the other surgeries. I am totally happy with my AFC, but will always wear a shirt (too much tummy)!

Thank you Terri. Keep these wonderful videos coming! They’re so important!

I have a bulging after diep flap. What are my options to get rid of it? I go to gym and work out very hard 5 days a week, I don’t see any improvement. I also have some cramps that sometimes they are very strong and sometimes I can control them. Please tell me if I have any options to get rid of the bulge? I’ve been thinking of getting a 2nd option. Thank you ❤

Can I have symmetry surgery if I have a pacemaker

Can a person with a pacemaker have breast symmetry surgery

I have a pacemaker can I get symmetry surgery

Glad to see this. I don't think many patients consider the stress of a 10 hour surgery on their body and brain when making a decision about Diep Flap. Fat grafting is a great alternative for those not wanting to be put under anesthetic for various reasons (like the likelihood of Alzheimers and permanent neurological damage for those with poor DNA detox profiles which may have been a contributing factor to the cancer diagnosis).

Thanks!

Thanks so much!

great prensatation! 0:44 0:46

Thank you! Very informative. Info that I didn't find anywhere else.

Lots of cancer in my family. I had genetic testing done and found out that I have the PALB2 mutation. Four months ago, I had my ovaries removed and last month I had the first of my cancer prevention breast surgeries. I’m having the DIEP flap surgery done July 9.

So very much informative . Excellent education. Thank you very very much!

My upper forearm hurts on the side I had breast augmentation revision surgery a day ago. Shall I be concerned.

With the cryo surgery, is just the tumor frozen or is there a standard area surrounding it also frozen as well? Additionally, when tumors are excised, they go to pathology for further and in some cases find more advanced findings than biopsy revealed. Is there a standard adjuvant therapy applied or based on biopsy pathology report? Thank you.

Thank you so much for the very helpful presentation. I am at the time thinking which option I need to pick up for my breast construction. I finished radiation one month ago. This information answered my most of questions and concerns. My plastic surgeon told me to wait 6 months before construction. I kind of like to do the transplant surgery, but still want to keep breast skin, guess have to let surgeon evaluate if my breast skin can be used by then. Thank you both of you for your time and this gtreat education, I have learned a lot!

Thanks for sharing!

What a great presentation, thank you so much! <3

After mastectomy do you need to a capsule in order to fat graft intp? So fat cells domt just go anywhere? So they stay in a capsule? My Dr is saying i need to keep tissue expander in me before fat grafting to stretch skin and allow body to build a capsule. Is that true??... fyi i am opting for no implant. Im just trying to have a sm A cup to match other healthy boob. I also had explant surgery, so i could not just go flat; i wouldve been concaved.

Hi Terri and Dr. C! I have a few questions. Thank you so much for this very informative video! It’s exactly what I was looking for and I appreciate the questions to ask my surgeon as well as the super specific ones! I appreciate this information immensely. Small background: I am going on 2 years post double skin sparing mastectomy. I had 32 rounds of radiation to my left side. I have been smoking. Vape pen. I’m stopping after seeing this! My appointment is in either August or September with MDA In Houston. 1. I had an emergency appendectomy in 1997. I still get spasms from time to time when I engage the muscle. Is that something to worry about? I forgot to mention this in my consult. I had the CT angiogram so they can see my blood flow. I’m assuming if they saw a complication I would have been made aware? Is there anything I can do to help with this? 2. Also, with the smoking - I quit right now, will this still affect me negatively and cause a higher risk of complications? I know stopping immediately will reduce that risk, but, should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to reduce those complications besides stopping? Should I tell my plastic surgeon? 3. Finally, I am having a lymph node transfer done at the same time to address the MDA stage 4 (level 2) lymphedema in my left arm & hand. This will be done by another plastic/micro surgeon who specializes in this. This doc says both teams will work on me in tandem and this should reduce the amount of time I am under. His team will help the other. It sounds great in theory, but I worry about the thought of possible mistakes due to a “too many cooks in the kitchen” sort of thing. I hope I’m just overthinking. These teams work together often from what I have been told. Are there any certain questions I should ask, scenarios I should ask them to avoid or perform? Specifics for recovery I should be prepped for or ask about? Any pointers or insight would be so helpful. I don’t want to insinuate that I don’t trust them and possibly ruffle anyone’s ego feathers. (Not that this has been shown. I’m just trying to be cautious). I appreciate you reading this and hopefully replying. I’m so nervous and don’t know what to expect. It would alleviate a lot of pressure and worry if I heard more from an outside expert and source. Thank you so much for sharing everything with those of us in the dark and being a great source of knowledge and light. ❤🙏🏼 Amber

My surgery will be May 14th. for this surgery. Im nervous. I was supposed to get the surgery back i March but the Dr rescheduled the surgery.

1. Why don't they use fat transfer to the lower abdomen to fix the aesthetics if the belly button and natural belly pooch? 2. As far as revisions, so you ever remove the transplanted skin from the breast to increase the amount of breast volume with active nerves/feelings?