Natural, Insurance-Covered Breast Reconstruction at Portsmouth Regional Hospital
A Natural Solution for Breast Reconstruction on New Hampshire’s Seacoast
For women in Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Exeter, and nearby southern Maine towns, The DIEP Group offers advanced, natural DIEP flap breast reconstruction — performed by highly experienced microsurgeons at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Unlike traditional implant reconstruction, the DIEP flap uses your own tissue to restore soft, warm, and permanent results after mastectomy. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, experiencing implant issues, or simply exploring more natural options, The DIEP Group provides personalized, insurance-covered care close to home.
Understanding DIEP Flap Reconstruction
The DIEP flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap) is one of the most refined and natural types of breast reconstruction. It uses skin and fat from your lower abdomen, transferring it to the chest to recreate the breast — all while preserving the abdominal muscles.
This technique allows for:
- Natural softness and warmth that mirrors your own body
- Permanent results with no implant exchanges or leaks
- Improved strength and comfort (no muscle removal)
- A smoother, flatter abdomen similar to a tummy tuck
Each flap’s tiny blood vessels are reconnected under a microscope — a complex technique that requires specialized microsurgical expertise. The result: a living, natural breast that ages with you.
Why Portsmouth Patients Choose The DIEP Group
Women across New Hampshire’s Seacoast choose The DIEP Group for their experience, precision, and focus on natural results. Here’s why:
1️⃣ Natural, Permanent Results
No implants. No foreign materials. The breast is made entirely of your own tissue, ensuring soft, warm, and lifelong results.
2️⃣ Improved Comfort After Radiation or Implant Problems
DIEP flaps bring in healthy tissue, helping women heal after radiation or replace painful, hard, or rippled implants.
3️⃣ Abdominal Contouring Benefit
Because tissue comes from the lower abdomen, many women also enjoy a flatter stomach and improved waistline contour.
4️⃣ Lifelong Peace of Mind
Unlike implants that can rupture, shift, or require exchange every decade, DIEP flaps are permanent and self-sustaining.
5️⃣ Fully Covered by Insurance
All types of breast reconstruction — including DIEP flaps, implant removal, symmetry, and revisions — are covered by insurance under federal law.
Insurance Coverage for DIEP Flap Reconstruction in New Hampshire
Many women wonder whether advanced breast reconstruction options like the DIEP flap are covered. The answer is yes.
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) requires insurance companies to cover all breast reconstruction procedures after mastectomy — including DIEP flap reconstruction, revisions, and symmetry surgeries.
The DIEP Group works directly with patients to navigate the process:
- Photo and documentation submission
- Medical necessity letters
- Preauthorization and appeals if needed
Common Private Plans in New Hampshire
We frequently work with:
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Tufts Health Plan
- Aetna
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
(We do not participate with Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, or MaineCare.)
Your DIEP Flap Surgery Journey
Step 1 – Personalized Consultation
You’ll meet virtually or in person with our surgeons to discuss your history and goals. A CT angiogram helps identify ideal blood vessels for your flap.
Step 2 – Surgery Day
Your surgery is performed at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, with anesthesia provided by a dedicated team. The lower abdominal tissue is microsurgically transferred to create your new breast.
Hospital stay: 2 days on average. Most women are walking the next morning.
Step 3 – Two-Day Recovery Pathway
You’ll be comfortably cared for by the hospital’s breast reconstruction nursing team. We encourage light walking on day one and normal home activity after discharge.
Step 4 – Fine-Tuning & Symmetry
At a later stage, optional fat grafting, nipple reconstruction, or symmetry adjustments can refine your final result.
Who’s a Good Candidate for DIEP Flap Reconstruction?
You may be an ideal candidate if you:
✅ Have had a mastectomy or are planning one
✅ Have enough lower abdominal tissue
✅ Have prior implants that are painful, hard, or recalled
✅ Have had radiation and want to restore softness
✅ Want to avoid or replace implants entirely
Even women who’ve had C-sections or abdominal surgery may still qualify after imaging confirms healthy vessels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have DIEP reconstruction years after my mastectomy?
Absolutely. Reconstruction is covered at any time, even decades later.
Can I replace recalled textured implants with DIEP flaps?
Yes — many Portsmouth patients come to us for implant removal and natural reconstruction.
Does the procedure affect my core strength?
No. Your abdominal muscles are fully preserved.
How long before I return to normal activities?
Most patients resume light activity in two weeks and full activity by 6–8 weeks.
Do I need to live near Portsmouth for care?
No. Patients travel from across NH and southern Maine. Pre-op visits can be done via telehealth.
Patient Testimonial – Portsmouth, NH
“After radiation, my implant became hard and painful. I was nervous about a big surgery, but The DIEP Group made everything easy. I stayed in the hospital just two days, and my new breast feels soft, natural, and like my own body again.”
— Laura T., Portsmouth, NH
Why Choose The DIEP Group
- Board-certified microsurgeons specializing exclusively in DIEP flap reconstruction
- High surgical volume across multiple New England hospitals – over 200 DIEP flaps performed yearly
- Surgeries performed at Portsmouth Regional Hospital
- High success rate and low complication profile
- Insurance navigation and patient advocacy
- Lifelong, natural, implant-free results
- Personalized, compassionate support throughout your recovery
Serving Patients Across the Seacoast Region
We proudly serve patients from Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Exeter, Hampton, Durham, and southern Maine, all treated at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Visit our detailed local guides to learn about DIEP flap surgery in your area:
- Manchester, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Nashua, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Concord, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Dover, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Keene, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Derry & Salem, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Portland, ME – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Biddeford, Saco, York & Kittery, ME – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Rochester, NH – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Schedule Your Consultation
If you live in the Seacoast region and are exploring natural breast reconstruction, contact The DIEP Group today.
The DIEP Group
Surgeries performed at Portsmouth Regional Hospital
203-200-0828
