Women throughout Albany, the Capital Region, and Upstate New York can undergo advanced microsurgical breast reconstruction with The DIEP Group at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York.
The DIEP flap uses a woman’s own lower abdominal skin and fat to reconstruct one or both breasts after mastectomy while preserving the abdominal muscles. For appropriate patients, it provides a natural alternative to permanent breast implants and can be performed either at the time of mastectomy or as a delayed reconstruction months or years later.
The DIEP Group performs more than 300 DIEP flaps per year across our locations, with Albany-area DIEP flap surgery performed at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Patients do not need to have received all of their previous care at St. Peter’s. We routinely evaluate women who have undergone mastectomy, tissue expander placement, implant reconstruction, chemotherapy, or radiation elsewhere and are now considering DIEP flap reconstruction.
This is especially important for women receiving breast cancer care through Albany Medical Center or another Capital Region hospital. Your breast cancer treatment and your definitive breast reconstruction do not necessarily have to take place within the same health system.
Where Is DIEP Flap Reconstruction Performed in Albany?
The DIEP Group performs Albany-area DIEP flap breast reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Our Albany location allows patients throughout the Capital Region to access specialized microsurgical breast reconstruction without routinely traveling to New York City or Boston.
Patients come to us from throughout Albany and surrounding communities, including Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Latham, Colonie, Guilderland, Delmar, Bethlehem, East Greenbush, Rensselaer, Niskayuna, Ballston Spa, Glens Falls, Queensbury, and other areas of Upstate New York.
For patients researching where to have a DIEP flap, however, the hospital is only part of the decision. DIEP reconstruction is a highly specialized microsurgical operation, making the experience of the surgical team particularly important.
The DIEP Group performs more than 300 DIEP flaps annually across our locations and focuses extensively on both primary and complex secondary breast reconstruction.
Can I Have My Mastectomy at Albany Medical Center and My DIEP Flap at St. Peter’s Hospital?
Yes.
A woman can undergo her mastectomy at Albany Medical Center, another Albany-area hospital, or another hospital elsewhere in New York and subsequently undergo DIEP flap reconstruction with The DIEP Group at St. Peter’s Hospital.
There is no requirement that the hospital where you undergo mastectomy must also be the hospital where you ultimately have your breast reconstruction.
This distinction can be particularly helpful for patients who already have an established breast surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncologist.
You may be completely comfortable receiving your cancer treatment through your existing medical team while choosing a different microsurgical team for your definitive breast reconstruction.
For some women, the DIEP flap is performed soon after their cancer treatment. For others, reconstruction is deliberately staged around chemotherapy or radiation.
Mastectomy and Tissue Expanders Elsewhere, DIEP Flaps Later
One useful reconstructive pathway is:
Mastectomy → Tissue Expanders → Cancer Treatment if Needed → DIEP Flap
For example, a patient may undergo bilateral mastectomies and placement of temporary tissue expanders at Albany Medical Center or another hospital.
The expanders temporarily preserve the breast skin envelope and reconstructive space while the patient heals and completes any necessary additional treatment.
She can then undergo chemotherapy or radiation through her existing oncology team.
Once treatment has been completed and she is ready for definitive reconstruction, she can come to The DIEP Group at St. Peter’s Hospital. During the DIEP flap operation, the tissue expanders are removed and replaced with living tissue from the lower abdomen.
This allows patients to maintain continuity with their existing cancer-treatment team without giving up the option of having their definitive reconstruction performed by a high-volume DIEP flap group.
DIEP Flap Reconstruction After Chemotherapy or Radiation
The timing of breast reconstruction should be coordinated with the patient’s overall cancer treatment.
If chemotherapy is required after mastectomy, a temporary tissue expander can remain in place while chemotherapy is completed. DIEP flap reconstruction can then be performed after treatment once the patient has adequately recovered and is medically ready for another operation.
Radiation requires additional consideration because it can permanently change the breast skin and underlying tissues.
Radiated tissue may become tighter, firmer, thinner, less elastic, or discolored. Radiation can also increase the risk of long-term problems with implant reconstruction.
For selected patients who require post-mastectomy radiation, a staged pathway may therefore be appropriate:
Mastectomy → Tissue Expander → Radiation → Healing → DIEP Flap
After radiation has been completed and the chest tissues have had appropriate time to recover, the expander can be removed and replaced with healthy, vascularized abdominal tissue.
The precise timing after radiation is individualized. There is no single interval that is appropriate for every patient.
Why DIEP Reconstruction Can Be Valuable After Radiation
A DIEP flap brings healthy living tissue with its own blood supply into the reconstructed breast.
This can be particularly useful in a previously radiated chest.
Women who underwent mastectomy, tissue expander placement, chemotherapy, or radiation at Albany Medical Center or another cancer center can therefore still be evaluated for delayed DIEP flap reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Patients do not need to transfer their medical oncology or radiation oncology care to The DIEP Group simply because they choose us for reconstruction.
Can Breast Implants Be Replaced with DIEP Flaps?
Yes. DIEP reconstruction is not limited to women who currently have tissue expanders.
Patients who previously completed implant-based reconstruction can later choose to replace their implants with their own tissue.
This may occur months after the original reconstruction or many years later.
Some women simply decide that they no longer want permanent breast implants. Others develop problems such as:
- Capsular contracture
- Implant rippling or visibility
- Breast asymmetry
- Animation deformity
- Implant malposition
- Implant rupture
- Tightness or discomfort
- Problems related to radiation
- Recurrent infection
- Previous implant exposure or loss
- Concerns regarding recalled textured implants
During implant-to-DIEP reconstruction, the existing implants are removed and the breast pockets are prepared for autologous reconstruction. Abdominal skin and fat are then transferred to the chest to create the new breast mound.
When a patient has subpectoral implants with animation deformity, the pectoralis muscle can also be returned toward its normal position on the chest wall when appropriate.
The goal is to replace an implant-dependent reconstruction with living tissue from the patient’s own body.
What If I Am Searching for DIEP Flap Reconstruction at Albany Medical Center?
Patients often begin their research using the name of the hospital where they were diagnosed or are already receiving treatment.
You may therefore have searched for Albany Medical Center DIEP flap surgery, Albany Med breast reconstruction, DIEP flap near Albany Medical Center, or DIEP flap surgeons in Albany, NY.
Albany Medical Center offers breast reconstruction, including autologous reconstruction. However, patients are not required to have every stage of their treatment within one hospital system.
If you are comparing DIEP flap options in Albany, consider evaluating the microsurgical team itself in addition to the hospital.
Questions worth asking include:
- How many DIEP flaps does the surgical group perform each year?
- How frequently do the surgeons perform bilateral DIEP reconstruction?
- Does the team routinely perform delayed reconstruction?
- How frequently does the team treat patients after radiation?
- Can existing implants or tissue expanders be converted to DIEP flaps?
- Does the team routinely manage complex or failed previous reconstruction?
- How are DIEP flaps monitored after surgery?
- What happens if there is concern about the blood supply to a flap?
The DIEP Group performs more than 300 DIEP flaps annually across our locations.
For Albany-area patients, our procedures are performed at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Immediate Versus Delayed DIEP Flap Reconstruction
A DIEP flap can be performed either at the time of mastectomy or later.
Immediate DIEP Flap Reconstruction
With immediate reconstruction, the mastectomy and DIEP flap are performed during the same operative setting.
The breast surgeon performs the mastectomy, and the microsurgical team reconstructs the breast using abdominal tissue.
For appropriate patients, this avoids a period of living without a breast mound and may preserve more of the natural breast skin.
Delayed DIEP Flap Reconstruction
Delayed reconstruction is performed after the mastectomy has already healed.
The patient may have:
- No reconstruction
- Tissue expanders
- Permanent breast implants
- Previous radiation
- Previous failed reconstruction
Delayed DIEP reconstruction can be performed months or even years after mastectomy.
This means that a woman who was treated for breast cancer several years ago in Albany may still be a candidate even if DIEP flap reconstruction was never discussed when she originally underwent mastectomy.
What Happens During DIEP Flap Surgery at St. Peter’s Hospital?
During DIEP flap surgery, skin and fat from the lower abdomen are used to reconstruct the breast while preserving the abdominal muscles.
The perforating blood vessels supplying this tissue are carefully dissected through the abdominal wall. The tissue is then transferred to the chest.
Using microsurgical techniques, the flap blood vessels are connected to recipient vessels in the chest, restoring circulation to the transferred tissue.
For bilateral reconstruction, tissue from the abdomen is divided to reconstruct both breasts.
The abdominal incision is typically positioned low enough to be concealed beneath many types of underwear and bathing suits. The abdomen is closed in a manner similar in location to an abdominoplasty incision, although DIEP flap surgery is reconstructive surgery rather than a cosmetic tummy tuck.
The primary purpose of the abdominal operation is obtaining healthy tissue for breast reconstruction while preserving the rectus abdominal muscles.
How Long Will I Stay at St. Peter’s Hospital After DIEP Flap Surgery?
Our typical hospital stay following DIEP flap reconstruction is approximately two days, although the exact length of stay depends on the patient’s recovery.
During hospitalization, the reconstructed breasts are closely monitored to ensure that the flaps maintain adequate circulation.
Patients begin getting out of bed and walking early in their recovery.
By the time patients leave the hospital, they receive instructions regarding drain care, activity, medications, incision care, and warning signs that should prompt them to contact the surgical team.
Recovery continues at home with follow-up through The DIEP Group.
What Are the Advantages of Natural Breast Reconstruction?
DIEP flap reconstruction differs fundamentally from implant reconstruction because the reconstructed breast is made from the patient’s own living tissue.
Potential advantages include:
- No permanent breast implant
- A breast that is generally softer and more natural in feel
- Reconstruction that changes with the patient’s body over time
- Avoidance of future operations performed solely to replace an aging implant
- The ability to replace radiated or damaged breast tissue with healthy vascularized tissue
- Preservation of the abdominal muscles
- Improvement in the lower abdominal contour
DIEP reconstruction is nevertheless a major operation and is not the best choice for every patient.
The operation is longer and recovery is generally more involved than straightforward implant reconstruction. Patients also have abdominal and breast incisions, and microsurgery carries specific risks including partial or complete flap loss.
A consultation should therefore compare the advantages and disadvantages of DIEP and implant reconstruction for the individual patient rather than assuming one approach is universally better.
Who May Be a Candidate for DIEP Flap Reconstruction?
Many women who have undergone or are planning mastectomy may be candidates for DIEP reconstruction.
Potential candidates include women who:
- Want breast reconstruction using their own tissue
- Want to avoid permanent breast implants
- Have tissue expanders after mastectomy
- Already have breast implants and want them removed
- Have undergone radiation
- Have capsular contracture or implant-related problems
- Experienced a previous failed reconstruction
- Had mastectomy years ago without reconstruction
- Are planning bilateral or unilateral mastectomy
- Have adequate lower abdominal tissue for reconstruction
Previous abdominal surgery does not automatically eliminate DIEP flap reconstruction as an option. The location and extent of previous abdominal scars must be evaluated individually.
Not every patient has sufficient abdominal tissue, and medical conditions or previous operations may affect candidacy.
Is DIEP Flap Reconstruction Covered by Insurance?
Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is generally covered by commercial health insurance when medically necessary and subject to the terms of the individual insurance plan.
Coverage can include reconstruction performed at the time of mastectomy as well as delayed reconstruction performed later.
A patient does not generally lose the right to pursue breast reconstruction simply because she initially chose implants, underwent reconstruction at another hospital, or waited years after her mastectomy.
Coverage and network status are plan-specific, however.
The DIEP Group works with commercial insurance plans and can review insurance information as part of the consultation and authorization process. The DIEP Group does not participate with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
Patients considering moving the reconstructive portion of their care from another hospital to St. Peter’s should contact our office so that their specific insurance coverage can be evaluated before surgery is planned.
DIEP Flap Reconstruction for Patients Throughout the Capital Region
Our Albany program is designed to serve patients throughout the Capital Region and surrounding areas of Upstate New York.
St. Peter’s Hospital can be a convenient location for patients from Albany County, Rensselaer County, Schenectady County, Saratoga County, and surrounding communities.
Patients also travel to Albany from farther north and west in New York, as well as portions of western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
For many patients, having microsurgical reconstruction in Albany allows them to remain substantially closer to their family and support system than traveling to New York City or Boston.
Why Choose The DIEP Group for DIEP Flap Reconstruction in Albany?
The DIEP Group focuses on advanced breast reconstruction, with particular experience in microsurgical autologous reconstruction.
Our surgeons perform more than 300 DIEP flaps per year across our locations.
Our experience includes:
- Immediate and delayed DIEP reconstruction
- Unilateral and bilateral DIEP flaps
- Reconstruction after radiation
- Tissue expander-to-DIEP conversion
- Implant-to-DIEP conversion
- Failed implant reconstruction
- Capsular contracture
- Implant infection and implant loss
- Significant rippling and implant visibility
- Animation deformity
- Recalled textured breast implants
- Complex revision breast reconstruction
For Albany-area patients, these procedures are performed at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Most importantly, patients can seek an opinion from The DIEP Group regardless of where their breast cancer treatment began.
The hospital where your breast cancer journey began does not necessarily have to determine where your reconstruction ends.
Frequently Asked Questions About DIEP Flap Surgery in Albany
Can I have my mastectomy at Albany Medical Center and my DIEP flap at St. Peter’s Hospital?
Yes. Patients can undergo mastectomy at Albany Medical Center or another hospital and later undergo DIEP flap reconstruction with The DIEP Group at St. Peter’s Hospital. Your cancer treatment and definitive reconstruction do not necessarily need to occur within the same health system.
Can Albany Med place my tissue expanders and The DIEP Group perform my DIEP flaps later?
Potentially, yes. A common staged approach involves mastectomy and temporary tissue expander placement followed by healing and any necessary chemotherapy or radiation. The expanders can later be removed when DIEP flap reconstruction is performed at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Where can I have a DIEP flap near Albany Medical Center?
The DIEP Group performs DIEP flap breast reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. Patients receiving cancer care through Albany Medical Center can seek a separate consultation with our microsurgical team without necessarily transferring their oncology care.
Do I have to use the plastic surgeon at the hospital where I have my mastectomy?
No. Patients can seek opinions from different reconstructive surgeons and choose where to undergo breast reconstruction, subject to medical coordination and insurance requirements.
Can I have a DIEP flap after radiation?
Yes. DIEP flap reconstruction is frequently considered for women who have undergone radiation. Bringing healthy, vascularized tissue into a radiated chest is one of the important applications of autologous reconstruction.
Can I switch from breast implants to DIEP flaps?
Yes. Existing implants can be removed and replaced with DIEP flaps. Patients may pursue this because of implant complications or simply because they prefer reconstruction using their own tissue.
Can I have a DIEP flap years after my mastectomy?
Yes. Delayed DIEP flap reconstruction can potentially be performed many years after mastectomy. There is no requirement that reconstruction occur immediately after breast cancer treatment
Do I need to transfer my medical oncology care to St. Peter’s Hospital?
No. Choosing The DIEP Group for DIEP flap reconstruction does not generally require you to transfer your entire breast cancer treatment team.
If you are already receiving chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surveillance, or other cancer care through Albany Medical Center or another oncology practice, you may be able to continue that care with your established physicians while having your breast reconstruction performed by The DIEP Group at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Our team coordinates the reconstructive portion of your treatment with your other physicians when necessary.
What if I am still undergoing chemotherapy?
If chemotherapy is required after mastectomy, definitive DIEP flap reconstruction can often be delayed until chemotherapy has been completed and you have adequately recovered.
A temporary tissue expander can be useful during this interval.
For example, you may undergo mastectomy and tissue expander placement at another Albany-area hospital, complete chemotherapy with your existing oncology team, and then come to The DIEP Group for DIEP flap reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital.
The timing of surgery is individualized based on your cancer treatment, overall health, blood counts, healing, and recommendations from your oncology team.
What if my doctors do not know whether I will need radiation yet?
This is a common situation.
The final decision regarding post-mastectomy radiation may depend on information that becomes available from the surgical pathology, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, margins, and other characteristics of the cancer.
When the need for radiation is uncertain, a staged reconstructive strategy using a temporary tissue expander may preserve future options.
Once the final cancer treatment plan is established, the timing of definitive reconstruction can be reconsidered.
An early consultation with The DIEP Group can be helpful even if your DIEP flap will not occur until months later.
Can my tissue expanders stay in during chemotherapy or radiation?
In many patients, tissue expanders can remain in place while chemotherapy or radiation is completed.
Whether this is appropriate depends on the individual reconstructive and cancer-treatment plan.
The tissue expander can function as a temporary reconstruction and help preserve the breast skin envelope until the patient is ready for definitive DIEP flap reconstruction.
When the DIEP flap is eventually performed, the expander is removed.
Do I need to have my tissue expanders removed before coming to The DIEP Group?
No.
If you already have tissue expanders, our surgeons can evaluate your existing reconstruction and determine how to incorporate their removal into the DIEP flap procedure.
Patients do not generally need a separate operation simply to remove their expanders before being evaluated for DIEP reconstruction.
What if I already had my tissue expanders exchanged for permanent implants?
You can still be evaluated for DIEP flap reconstruction.
Some patients first complete implant reconstruction and only later learn about DIEP flaps or decide that they would prefer reconstruction using their own tissue.
Others initially do well with implants but subsequently develop capsular contracture, rippling, animation deformity, implant malposition, discomfort, problems after radiation, or other concerns.
Existing implants do not prevent you from exploring autologous reconstruction.
Can DIEP flap reconstruction help after failed implant reconstruction?
Often, yes.
Conversion to autologous tissue can be particularly useful when repeated attempts at implant reconstruction have produced persistent problems.
The appropriate operation depends on what has happened previously, including the condition of the breast skin, previous radiation, infection history, implant position, scar tissue, and available abdominal donor tissue.
For some patients, DIEP reconstruction provides an opportunity to move away from repeated implant-related procedures and reconstruct the breast with living tissue.
What if I had an implant infection and my reconstruction was removed?
Previous implant infection or implant loss does not necessarily prevent future DIEP flap reconstruction.
In some circumstances, removing an infected implant or tissue expander and allowing the tissues to recover is the safest initial approach.
Once the infection has completely resolved and the tissues have healed, delayed autologous reconstruction may be considered.
The timing should be individualized based on the severity of the previous infection, condition of the chest tissues, other medical issues, and any ongoing cancer treatment.
Can I have DIEP flap reconstruction if I am very thin?
Possibly.
The abdomen is the preferred donor site for a DIEP flap, but the amount of available abdominal tissue varies considerably among patients.
Thin patients may still have enough lower abdominal tissue to create an appropriately sized breast, particularly when reconstructing a smaller breast.
A physical examination and review of the patient’s reconstructive goals are necessary to determine whether adequate donor tissue is available.
What if I have had previous abdominal surgery?
Previous abdominal surgery does not automatically prevent DIEP flap reconstruction.
Many patients with previous abdominal procedures can still be candidates.
The type and location of previous scars are important because abdominal surgery can alter the anatomy or blood supply of the tissue used for reconstruction.
Our surgeons evaluate previous operations and abdominal scars as part of DIEP flap planning. Preoperative imaging of the abdominal blood vessels may also be used when appropriate.
Will a DIEP flap give me a tummy tuck?
A DIEP flap and an abdominoplasty share some similarities because both involve removal of lower abdominal skin and fat and result in a low abdominal scar.
However, DIEP flap surgery is not a cosmetic tummy tuck.
The primary purpose of the abdominal portion of the operation is to safely harvest tissue and its blood vessels for breast reconstruction while preserving the abdominal muscles.
Patients frequently experience a flatter lower abdominal contour as a secondary benefit, but the operation is planned around the requirements of breast reconstruction rather than cosmetic abdominal surgery.
How long does recovery from DIEP flap surgery take?
Recovery occurs progressively over several weeks.
Patients generally begin walking shortly after surgery and continue increasing their activity after leaving the hospital.
Most patients should expect several weeks before returning to more routine activities and longer before unrestricted exercise or heavy lifting.
Recovery varies according to the extent of reconstruction, whether one or both breasts are reconstructed, previous operations, overall health, and individual healing.
Our team provides specific postoperative instructions and follows patients throughout their recovery.
How do I know whether DIEP flap or implant reconstruction is better for me?
There is no single answer that applies to every woman.
Implant reconstruction generally involves a shorter initial operation and avoids an abdominal donor site. For some patients, it is an excellent reconstructive choice.
DIEP flap reconstruction involves a longer and more complex operation but replaces the breast with living tissue and avoids dependence on a permanent breast implant.
The balance may be different for patients who have undergone radiation, experienced implant complications, or strongly prefer natural-tissue reconstruction.
A consultation should evaluate both approaches in the context of your anatomy, cancer treatment, medical history, previous surgery, lifestyle, and personal priorities.
Should I get a second opinion before deciding on breast reconstruction?
For a major decision such as breast reconstruction, seeking another opinion can be useful—particularly if you are deciding between implants and autologous reconstruction or have been told that you are not a candidate for a particular approach.
A second opinion does not obligate you to change your current physicians.
Patients receiving treatment at Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Hospital, or another hospital can meet with The DIEP Group specifically to discuss their reconstructive options and then decide where they are most comfortable having surgery.
Planning Ahead for DIEP Flap Reconstruction
You do not need to wait until your mastectomy, chemotherapy, or radiation is finished to learn whether you may be a candidate for DIEP flap reconstruction.
In many cases, it is better to understand the available options before the first reconstructive operation.
This is particularly important if you are considering temporary tissue expanders with the intention of eventually having natural-tissue reconstruction.
If you are currently planning mastectomy at Albany Medical Center or another hospital, an early consultation with The DIEP Group can help answer questions such as:
- Whether you appear to be a candidate for DIEP flap reconstruction
- Whether immediate or delayed DIEP reconstruction may be appropriate
- Whether a temporary tissue expander makes sense
- How anticipated chemotherapy may affect timing
- How anticipated radiation may affect the reconstructive plan
- Whether existing abdominal scars could affect DIEP reconstruction
- Whether your insurance plan provides access to The DIEP Group and St. Peter’s Hospital
Having this information does not require you to change your existing cancer-treatment plan.
Instead, it can help preserve reconstructive choices while you move through breast cancer treatment.
You Can Reconsider Your Reconstruction at Any Stage
Not every patient learns about DIEP flap reconstruction before her mastectomy.
Some women are focused understandably on treating their cancer and make an initial reconstructive decision quickly. Others are offered tissue expanders or implants and do not learn about autologous reconstruction until later.
There is often still an opportunity to reconsider.
You may contact The DIEP Group if you currently:
- Have a mastectomy scheduled
- Have tissue expanders
- Are undergoing chemotherapy
- Are preparing for radiation
- Have completed radiation
- Have permanent breast implants
- Have complications from implant reconstruction
- Have had an implant or expander removed
- Have been living without breast reconstruction
- Had your mastectomy many years ago
The appropriate operation may differ at each stage, but a previous decision to undergo another form of reconstruction does not necessarily eliminate DIEP flap reconstruction as a future option.
Breast Reconstruction Is Separate from Where Your Cancer Treatment Started
For patients receiving care in Albany, one of the most important points to understand is that choosing a cancer center does not necessarily mean choosing that same institution for every subsequent stage of reconstruction.
A woman may have an excellent relationship with her breast surgeon at Albany Medical Center. She may want to continue seeing her Albany Med oncologist. Her chemotherapy or radiation treatment may already be established there.
None of those circumstances inherently prevents her from obtaining another opinion regarding breast reconstruction.
The same applies to patients receiving treatment through other hospitals and oncology practices throughout the Capital Region.
Breast reconstruction can extend months or years beyond the initial treatment of breast cancer. Patients should feel comfortable researching the available reconstructive approaches and the experience of the surgeons who perform them.
For women specifically interested in microsurgical natural-tissue reconstruction, The DIEP Group provides an Albany option at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Choosing a DIEP Flap Surgeon in Albany, NY
When researching DIEP flap surgeons, patients frequently focus first on hospital names.
Hospital resources are important, but DIEP flap reconstruction is also highly dependent on the microsurgical team performing the operation.
DIEP flap surgery requires dissection of small perforating blood vessels from the abdomen and microsurgical connection of those vessels in the chest. It is therefore reasonable to ask specifically about a surgical group’s experience with the procedure.
Questions to consider include:
- How frequently does the team perform DIEP flap reconstruction?
- Does the team regularly perform bilateral DIEP flaps?
- Does the practice treat patients after radiation?
- Does the team perform delayed reconstruction?
- Does the team convert tissue expanders and implants to DIEP flaps?
- Does the practice manage complex revision reconstruction?
- What is the typical hospital stay?
- How are patients followed after discharge?
The DIEP Group performs more than 300 DIEP flaps per year across our locations, including immediate reconstruction, delayed reconstruction, reconstruction after radiation, and conversion of previous implant-based reconstruction.
For patients in Albany and the Capital Region, our DIEP flap procedures are performed at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Schedule a DIEP Flap Consultation in Albany, NY
If you are considering breast reconstruction after mastectomy, you do not have to limit your options based on where your breast cancer treatment began.
The DIEP Group evaluates patients before mastectomy as well as women who already have tissue expanders, breast implants, previous radiation, or prior reconstruction.
Patients receiving treatment at Albany Medical Center or elsewhere in the Capital Region can continue working with their established cancer-treatment teams while seeking a separate opinion regarding DIEP flap reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital.
An early consultation can be especially helpful if you have an upcoming mastectomy and want to understand how tissue expanders, chemotherapy, radiation, and eventual DIEP flap reconstruction might fit together.
The DIEP Group performs more than 300 DIEP flaps per year across our locations.
To schedule a consultation regarding DIEP flap breast reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, contact:
The DIEP Group
Phone: 203-200-0828
Website: thediepgroup.com
Continue Exploring DIEP Flap Reconstruction
Patients considering DIEP flap surgery in Albany may also find the following topics helpful:
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Albany, NY
Delayed DIEP Flap Reconstruction in Albany
DIEP Flap After Radiation in Albany
DIEP Flap After Failed Breast Implant Reconstruction
Natural Breast Reconstruction in Albany and the Capital Region
Insurance Coverage for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Medically Reviewed By
The Surgeons of The DIEP Group
The DIEP Group specializes in advanced breast reconstruction, including microsurgical DIEP flap reconstruction, delayed breast reconstruction, reconstruction after radiation, and conversion from implant-based to natural-tissue reconstruction.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Reconstruction Procedures.
- National Cancer Institute. Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy.
- American Cancer Society. Breast Reconstruction Options Following Mastectomy.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Risks and Complications of Breast Implants.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Breast Cancer.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) information.
