The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator or DIEP flap is a microsurgical technique in which blood vessels, skin and fat are taken from the lower abdomen and used to reconstruct the breast(s).

In 1983, I flew home from college to be with my mother as she woke up from a mastectomy. She opted out of breast reconstruction, choosing to “go flat” instead. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer ...

For women who have undergone mastectomy for breast cancer, breast reconstruction using the abdominal 'DIEP flap' provides good long-term quality of life (QOL) -- similar to that of women without ...