Introduction: Natural, Permanent Reconstruction — Close to Home
If you’re preparing for mastectomy or living with uncomfortable implants, you deserve a solution that’s natural, warm, and built to last. At Kent Hospital in Warwick, the fellowship-trained microsurgeons of The DIEP Group offer DIEP flap breast reconstruction — the gold-standard, insurance-covered option that uses your own tissue for a soft, lifelike result.
We serve patients across Rhode Island — Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence, Woonsocket, Newport — and Southern Massachusetts, including Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. Many patients find it easier and faster to reach Kent Hospital than traveling into Boston, without compromising on expertise.
Visit our Before and After DIEP Flap Gallery
What Is a DIEP Flap?
The Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap transfers skin and fat from the lower abdomen to the chest. Tiny blood vessels are reconnected under a microscope.
- Muscle-sparing: Unlike older TRAM flaps, no abdominal muscle is taken.
- Natural feel: Because it’s your tissue, the breast is soft and warm.
- Abdominal bonus: Tissue removal from the lower abdomen creates a tummy-tuck–like contouring effect.
Why Choose The DIEP Group at Kent Hospital?
- Fellowship-trained microsurgeons specializing in advanced autologous reconstruction
- High-volume DIEP experience across CT/MA/NH/RI
- Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for comfort and faster mobility
- Insurance navigation for immediate and delayed cases, including implant-to-DIEP conversions
- Convenient access for all of Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts (Fall River, New Bedford, Cape Cod)
DIEP vs. Implants: What Matters Most to Patients
Common implant problems we see (and fix):
- Capsular contracture (hard, tight, or painful implants)
- Radiation-related deformity and discomfort
- Rupture/silicone leakage and ongoing device monitoring
- Recalled textured implants
- Multiple surgeries for exchanges every ~10–15 years
Why patients choose DIEP flap instead:
- Permanent — no device to replace
- Soft, warm, natural feel and movement
- Ages with you and adapts to weight changes
- No leakage risk or MRI surveillance
- Often preferred after radiation
Key point: You can switch to DIEP at any time — at mastectomy or years later — even if your implants are “working.” Insurance covers immediate and delayed DIEP, including elective implant-to-DIEP conversion to avoid future exchanges and leaks.
Who Is a Candidate?
You may be an excellent candidate if you:
- Need reconstruction at the time of mastectomy, or
- Have implants and want a natural, permanent solution, or
- Have capsular contracture, post-radiation implant problems, rupture/leak, or recalled implants, and
- Have adequate lower-abdominal tissue and are otherwise healthy for surgery
For thinner patients, we can discuss stacked flaps, alternative donor sites, or hybrid options.
Your Surgery Day at Kent Hospital (Warwick, RI)
- Pre-op planning & vessel mapping
- Microsurgery: Transfer and reconnect abdominal tissue to the chest
- Shaping: Sculpt natural contour and symmetry
- Abdominal closure: Layered, tension-reducing closure (muscles preserved) → tummy-tuck–like contour
- Monitoring: Specialized unit with frequent flap checks
Typical OR time: Unilateral ~4–6 hours; bilateral ~6–8 hours (varies by anatomy).
Recovery: What to Expect
- Hospital stay: 2 days for flap monitoring and ERAS pain control
- Week 1–2: Short walks, drain care (2–4 drains total), expect fatigue
- Weeks 3–4: Many return to desk work; begin silicone scar therapy and SPF
- Weeks 6–8: Gradual return to full activity as cleared
- Months 3–6: Swelling resolves; optional symmetry, nipple reconstruction, and 3D areola tattooing
Insurance Coverage in Rhode Island & Southern Massachusetts
Under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA), most plans that cover mastectomy must also cover:
- Breast reconstruction (including DIEP flap)
- Opposite-breast symmetry procedures
- Revisions for contour/comfort
- Nipple reconstruction and 3D areola tattooing
This applies to immediate and delayed reconstruction — and to implant-to-DIEP conversions, even when you elect to switch to avoid future exchanges or silicone leakage.
We routinely coordinate benefits and preauthorization with RI and MA carriers and manage appeals when needed.
Tummy-Tuck with Breast Reconstruction
“Do I get a tummy tuck with DIEP?”
While the goal is reconstruction, most patients enjoy a flatter, smoother lower abdomen and improved waistline because donor tissue is taken from the belly. Muscle tightening (plication of rectus diastasis) is part of reconstruction, so the contouring benefit is real — and it’s included as part of your covered reconstruction.
Switching from Implants to DIEP: Common Scenarios
- Hard, painful capsular contracture
- Radiation-altered implants (tightness, deformity)
- Rupture/suspected leak and device anxiety
- Recalled textured implants
- Elective switch to a permanent, device-free result
In each scenario, DIEP provides a soft, warm, natural breast that ages with you — without the cycle of exchanges.
Patient Testimonial — Southern Massachusetts
“After radiation, my implants became hard and painful. I went to Kent Hospital for DIEP with The DIEP Group. My chest finally feels soft and natural, and my stomach is flatter. It was easier to get to Warwick than Boston, and the care was outstanding.”
— M.R., Fall River, MA
FAQs — Providence / Warwick / Newport Patients Ask
Is DIEP flap covered by insurance if I already have implants?
Yes. Immediate and delayed DIEP are typically covered, including elective implant-to-DIEP conversions.
Is DIEP better than implants after radiation?
Often yes. Autologous tissue tolerates radiation better than implants and can reduce long-term pain and tightness.
How long is the hospital stay at Kent Hospital?
Usually 2 days for specialized microsurgical monitoring.
Will my DIEP breast feel warm and natural?
Yes — it’s your living tissue, not a device.
Does a DIEP flap change with weight gain or loss?
Typically yes — it increases/decreases with your body, maintaining natural proportions.
Is DIEP the same as a tummy tuck?
Not exactly. You’ll likely see a tummy-tuck–like improvement in lower-abdominal contour as a secondary benefit of the donor site.
Do I have to go to Boston to get this level of reconstruction?
No. Kent Hospital (Warwick) offers advanced DIEP reconstruction close to home for Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts patients.
Service Areas
Rhode Island: Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Newport, East Providence, Woonsocket, Johnston, North Providence, Coventry, Cumberland, North Kingstown, South Kingstown
Southern Massachusetts: Fall River, New Bedford, Cape Cod (Falmouth, Hyannis, Barnstable, Mashpee), Attleboro, Somerset, Dartmouth
Internal Links
- DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Providence/Warwick, RI — Complete Guide
- DIEP Flap Recovery in Rhode Island — What to Expect at Kent Hospital
- Insurance Coverage for DIEP Flap in Rhode Island & Southern Massachusetts
Ready to Explore DIEP with The DIEP Group?
If you want a natural, permanent reconstruction — or you’re ready to switch from implants — we’ll guide every step at Kent Hospital.
The DIEP Group
203-200-0828
thediepgroup.com
Kent Hospital, Warwick, RI
