Natural, Insurance-Covered Reconstruction by The DIEP Group at Baystate Medical Center
Natural Breast Reconstruction, Minutes from Home
For women in Chicopee, MA, who have faced breast cancer or implant complications, advanced breast reconstruction is closer than you might think. At Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, just a short drive away, the expert microsurgeons of The DIEP Group perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction — the most natural and permanent approach available today.
This procedure uses your own living tissue, not implants, to rebuild soft, warm, and natural breasts that move and age with your body. Fully covered by insurance, the DIEP flap restores balance, confidence, and body harmony — with a hospital stay of just two days and a recovery plan tailored to your lifestyle.
Why Chicopee Women Are Choosing the DIEP Flap
Many women from Chicopee, Ludlow, West Springfield, and Holyoke have been turning to The DIEP Group after learning about the limitations of implant reconstruction or the discomfort caused by radiation-related changes.
The DIEP flap offers something different — a natural, permanent, muscle-preserving solution that helps women regain not only their figure but also their sense of wholeness.
1: Natural and Permanent Results
The DIEP flap uses your own abdominal tissue, so your breasts look, feel, and move naturally — with no foreign materials or need for future replacements.
2: Improved Comfort and Confidence
Women often describe feeling “like themselves again” after DIEP reconstruction — with soft, warm breasts that restore balance and body confidence.
3: Compatible with Prior Radiation or Implant Problems
For patients with radiation damage, hard implants, or asymmetry, the DIEP flap brings in healthy, well-vascularized tissue to soften and restore the chest.
4: Added Benefit — A Flatter Abdomen
Because the tissue is taken from the lower abdomen, patients also enjoy a gentle contour improvement similar to a tummy tuck.
5: Fully Covered by Insurance
All forms of breast reconstruction — including DIEP flaps — are covered by insurance under federal law. The DIEP Group manages preauthorizations and documentation for every patient.
The DIEP Flap Procedure Explained
The Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap procedure is a microsurgical technique that uses skin and fat from the lower abdomen to recreate the breast, while keeping the abdominal muscles fully intact.
Using an operating microscope, the surgeon connects tiny blood vessels from the transferred tissue to the chest area, ensuring healthy circulation and natural integration.
This advanced approach delivers the most natural result possible, without sacrificing core strength or flexibility — ideal for active women and mothers who need to resume their routines quickly.
Why Working Women and Mothers in Chicopee Prefer the DIEP Flap
Women from Chicopee often juggle work, childcare, and recovery — making it important that their reconstruction fits their lifestyle. The DIEP flap offers:
- Quick recovery — most return to light activity in 2 weeks
- Minimal pain — muscle-sparing technique preserves strength
- No future implant exchanges — one surgery for a lifetime result
- Body confidence — breasts that look and feel like your own
Because the DIEP flap uses your body’s natural tissue, the results adapt with you — maintaining harmony even after weight changes or aging.
The DIEP Group: Leading Specialists in Natural Reconstruction
The DIEP Group is a team of board-certified plastic surgeons who focus exclusively on advanced microsurgical breast reconstruction. Their experience and volume set them apart as one of the leading reconstruction teams in the Northeast.
Why Patients Choose The DIEP Group
- Surgeries performed locally at Baystate Medical Center
- High surgical volume across New England – over 200 DIEP flaps performed yearly
- Expert microsurgeons with national experience
- Personalized care and realistic expectations
- Full insurance preauthorization support
- Lifelong, natural, and confidence-boosting results
Women throughout Massachusetts — from Chicopee and Holyoke to Pittsfield and Worcester — choose The DIEP Group for their expertise and compassionate, patient-centered approach.
Your DIEP Flap Journey
Step 1 – Consultation
Your journey begins with an in-depth consultation, either in person or virtually. The surgeon reviews your medical history, treatment goals, and imaging.
A CT angiogram helps map your abdominal vessels to plan the safest and most aesthetic reconstruction.
Step 2 – Surgery
Your DIEP flap surgery is performed by The DIEP Group at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The procedure lasts 6–8 hours under general anesthesia.
Hospital stay: typically 2 days. Most patients walk the next morning.
Step 3 – Recovery
Patients return home after two days, resume light activities within two weeks, and recover fully in 6–8 weeks. Most mothers and working women are surprised at how quickly they feel back to normal.
Step 4 – Refinement
Optional refinements, such as fat grafting, nipple reconstruction, or scar optimization, can be done later for symmetry and shaping.
Insurance Coverage for DIEP Flap Reconstruction
The DIEP flap is fully covered by insurance — both at the time of mastectomy and years later. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) guarantees this coverage.
Our insurance team handles:
- Prior authorization and documentation
- Medical necessity letters
- Communication with your insurance provider
- Appeals and follow-up if needed
Common Private Insurance Plans in Western Massachusetts
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Tufts Health Plan
- Aetna
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
Who Is a Good Candidate for the DIEP Flap?
You may qualify for the DIEP flap if you:
- Have had or will have a mastectomy
- Want a natural reconstruction without implants
- Have sufficient abdominal tissue for transfer
- Have prior radiation or implant problems
- Prefer a lifelong, natural reconstruction
Even women who’ve had prior abdominal surgeries — including C-sections — can often qualify after vascular imaging confirms healthy blood flow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have DIEP flap reconstruction if I’ve had a C-section?
Yes. Most women with prior C-sections still qualify for DIEP flap reconstruction. Pre-surgical imaging helps identify the best blood vessels for transfer.
Is the DIEP flap a good choice for active women?
Yes. Because no muscle is removed, core strength is preserved, making it ideal for women who work, exercise, or care for young children.
Can I replace my implants with a DIEP flap?
Absolutely. Many women from Chicopee and Holyoke have made this switch for comfort and peace of mind.
How long will I stay in the hospital?
Most patients stay two days at Baystate Medical Center and walk comfortably the next morning.
Does insurance cover DIEP flap reconstruction?
Yes — all forms of breast reconstruction after mastectomy are required by law to be covered by insurance.
Patient Testimonial – Chicopee, MA
“After radiation, my implants became tight and uncomfortable. I didn’t want to keep replacing them every few years. The DIEP Group explained that my own tissue could be used to rebuild my breast — and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. My surgery at Baystate went smoothly, and I was home in two days.”
— Danielle F., Chicopee, MA
Serving Chicopee and Surrounding Communities
The DIEP Group proudly serves women from Chicopee, Ludlow, Holyoke, West Springfield, and Granby, providing natural, insurance-covered breast reconstruction at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA.
To explore other areas nearby, visit our local guides:
- Springfield, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Chicopee, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Westfield, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Holyoke, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Amherst, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Northampton, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Pittsfield, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Greenfield, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Leominster, MA – DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Schedule Your Consultation
If you live in or near Chicopee, MA, and are considering natural, insurance-covered DIEP flap breast reconstruction, contact The DIEP Group today to schedule your consultation.
The DIEP Group
Surgeries performed at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
203-200-0828
