Umbilicus (Belly Button) in DIEP FLAP Breast Reconstruction

[@ybigirl]

1. Why don't they use fat transfer to the lower abdomen to fix the aesthetics if the belly button and natural belly pooch? 2. As far as revisions, so you ever remove the transplanted skin from the breast to increase the amount of breast volume with active nerves/feelings?

[@DiepCFoundation]

Fat transfer is often utilized in a second phase of breast reconstruction. You can find more videos on this channel on phase 2. I'm not sure exactly what you are asking in question #2.

[@ybigirl]

@@DiepCFoundation Yep, I understand that Fat Transfer is used for the breast and face, but wonder why it is not used to give a more natural shape to the abdomen. A slight amount of fat around the belly button would solve the funnel issues... Maybe it is just me, but I can spot the tummy tucks a mile away because the contour is not natural. For #2, I wonder why they don't use a two step method to remove as much of the belly skin as possible from the breast area, inorder to accomplish two things 1. Improved skin sensitivity, since the remaining skin would be that of the chest and upper abdomen, vs the belly skin. So many women complain that their breasts have no sensitivity at the transplant site, and the existing skin/nerves would provide that, and 2. Removing scar tissue, or at least yielding a scar that looks more like a breast reduction. (I've seen too many photos where the women's skin color/aging/texture is very different at the transplant line.)

[@KensingtonGore-o3p]

Can I bring pictures or is it more of a “get what you get” kind of thing? I have a vertical belly button and I really love it.

[@DiepCFoundation]

@@KensingtonGore-o3p You can always bring pictures to communicate your wishes to your surgeon but because everyone has different anatomy there may be some limitations. But, yes, bring pictures.