Episode 19: Efficient DIEP Flaps

DIEP flaps are a type of breast reconstruction using a patient’s own tissue to reconstruct breasts after mastectomy for those affected by breast cancer. DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric perforators. Epigastric refers to the abdominal area. The underlying tissue and perforators (blood vessels) are disconnected by the microsurgeon from the abdominal area and transplanted to the breast area to create soft, warm, tissue much like the breasts removed during mastectomy.

To do an efficient DIEP flap requires years of training, skill, planning, and a team. My guest, Dr. Nicholas Haddock is one of the Breast Reconstruction Team at UT – Southwestern Department of Plastic Surgery in Dallas, TX. He works with Dr. Sumeet Teotia performing state of the art autologous breast reconstruction in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas.

In our discussion we reference the PRS Global Open paper he authored with Dr. Teotia titled, “Efficient DIEP Flap: Bilateral DIEP Flap in Less Than Four Hours”

Our goal for the conversation in this episode of the DiepCJourney Podcast is to inform and educate patients about the value of a team approach and to consider questions to ask at their own surgical consult for breast reconstruction.