Introduction: Why More Albany Patients Are Choosing DIEP Flap Reconstruction
For women facing or recovering from mastectomy, the decision about breast reconstruction is deeply personal. While implants remain a common option, they come with long-term risks and complications — rupture, leakage, capsular contracture, poor results after radiation, and the need for replacement every 10–15 years.
The DIEP flap procedure offers an alternative: using your own abdominal tissue to rebuild a breast that looks, feels, and ages naturally — without implants.
At The DIEP Group, our surgeons specialize in this advanced procedure and perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. Patients come not only from Albany, but also from surrounding cities like Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Amsterdam, and Glens Falls.
Best of all: DIEP flap reconstruction is always covered by insurance, no matter how many years after mastectomy.
Visit our Before and After DIEP Flap Gallery
What Is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction?
The DIEP flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap) is a type of autologous breast reconstruction that uses your own skin and fat — not implants.
- Donor site: The lower abdomen (similar to a tummy tuck)
- Tissue used: Fat and skin, along with blood vessels
- Muscles spared: Unlike older flap surgeries, no abdominal muscle is taken
- Microsurgery: Blood vessels are reconnected under the microscope at St. Peter’s Hospital
The result is a soft, warm, natural breast that ages and changes with your body — and a flatter, tighter abdomen as an added benefit.
Why Choose DIEP Flap Instead of Implants?
Albany women often search for “best alternative to implants after mastectomy” or “natural breast reconstruction in NY.” DIEP flaps answer those questions.
Benefits Over Implants:
- Permanent solution — no exchanges every 10 years
- No implant-related risks (rupture, leakage, recall)
- Soft and warm — feels like natural breast tissue
- Ages with you — grows or shrinks with weight changes
- Improved comfort — no capsular contracture or muscle spasms
- Abdominal contouring — tummy tuck–like benefit
Who Is a Candidate for DIEP Flap Reconstruction?
You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have had or will have a mastectomy
- Have enough lower abdominal tissue to create a breast mound
- Prefer a natural, implant-free solution
- Have problems with implants (pain, hardness, rupture, or poor results after radiation)
- Want a permanent result without future device replacement
Even if you had a mastectomy years ago, or previous reconstruction, you may still qualify.
Timing of DIEP Flap Reconstruction
- Immediate: Performed at the time of mastectomy
- Delayed: Performed months or years after mastectomy
- Conversion: Switching from implants to DIEP flap at any time
Many Albany-area patients are surprised to learn that delayed reconstruction is always covered by insurance — even decades later.
The Added Benefit: Abdominal Contouring
Because the tissue is taken from the lower abdomen, patients also see a benefit similar to a cosmetic tummy tuck:
- Flatter stomach
- Improved waistline
- Removal of excess skin and fat
This dual benefit is one of the reasons women often search “tummy tuck with breast reconstruction Albany NY.”
Insurance Coverage for DIEP Flap Surgery
DIEP flap reconstruction is always insurance-covered under the federal Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). This law requires all health plans covering mastectomy to also cover:
- Reconstruction of the breast
- Surgery on the opposite breast for symmetry
- Revisions, fat grafting, and corrective procedures
At The DIEP Group, our team helps with:
- Preauthorization
- Photo documentation
- Appeals if needed
What to Expect at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY
- Hospital stay: 2 days
- Recovery: Walking in the hospital the day after surgery; back to normal activity in 6–8 weeks
- Scars: A low abdominal scar (like a tummy tuck) and scars on the breast, which fade over time
- Long-term results: Permanent, natural breasts without implants
Common Questions About DIEP Flap Reconstruction
Is DIEP flap breast reconstruction safe?
Yes. When performed by experienced microsurgeons, complication rates are low and success rates are very high.
Can I have DIEP flap if I’ve had radiation?
Yes. In fact, DIEP flaps often improve outcomes in radiated breasts by bringing in healthy tissue.
Can I switch from implants to DIEP flap?
Yes. Many women in Albany choose this option when implants cause problems or they want a permanent solution.
Do I need to have implant problems to qualify for DIEP flap?
No. You can choose DIEP flap reconstruction even if implants are functioning well.
Will my insurance cover this if my mastectomy was years ago?
Yes. Reconstruction is covered at any time — immediate or delayed.
Will my stomach be weaker after DIEP flap?
No. Abdominal muscles are preserved, so strength is maintained.
Patient Testimonial
From Saratoga Springs, NY:
“After my mastectomy, I was told implants were my only option. I didn’t want something foreign in my body. I found The DIEP Group and had my surgery at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. Now I have natural breasts and a flatter stomach — and I’ll never need implant replacements.” — K.R., Saratoga Springs, NY
Serving Albany and Surrounding Cities
We proudly serve patients seeking DIEP flap breast reconstruction from:
Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Amsterdam, Glens Falls, Queensbury, Cohoes, Rotterdam, and Guilderland.
Patients also travel from across Upstate New York and Western Massachusetts to St. Peter’s Hospital for specialized DIEP flap surgery.
Why Choose The DIEP Group
- Surgeons who specialize exclusively in DIEP flap breast reconstruction
- Performed at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY with advanced microsurgery techniques
- Among the most experienced DIEP flap surgeons in the Northeast
- Insurance navigation support for every patient
- Personalized care with natural, long-lasting results
Internal Links
- DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Albany, NY — Complete Guide
- DIEP Flaps for Breast Implant Problems in Albany, NY — Benefits of DIEP Flaps for Implant Problems after Mastectomy
- Recovery: Recovery and Results after DIEP Flap Reconstruction in Albany, NY
Call to Action
If you live in Albany or the surrounding region and are considering breast reconstruction, learn more about the DIEP flap procedure. It offers natural, permanent results without implants — and it’s fully covered by insurance.
The DIEP Group
203-200-0828
