Page 45 - Read Online

Garoosi et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2024;11:42 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2024.57 Page 13 of 17

Example 7. This is a 40-year-old female with a history of invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast who underwent right skin-
sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction with a tissue expander. Four months later, she completed adjuvant right
breast radiation therapy. Eight months after the completion of adjuvant radiation therapy, she underwent separated stacked DIEP flap
reconstruction. Six months later, she underwent revision of the right breast reconstruction with removal of the flap skin paddles and
mastopexy, as well as balancing mastopexy on the contralateral left side and bilateral fat grafting. Top Row: Preoperative photos.
Middle Row: Postoperative photos following the stacked DIEP flap reconstruction of the right breast. Bottom Row: Postoperative photos
following revision of the stacked DIEP flap reconstruction of the right breast and balancing left mastopexy. DIEP: Deep inferior
epigastric perforator.

POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATIONS IN STACKED FLAP BREAST
RECONSTRUCTION
Clinical outcomes
The stacked DIEP free flap has emerged as a promising option for patients seeking breast reconstruction
with high satisfaction rates in both aesthetic and functional outcomes. The technique is particularly
advantageous for those requiring larger volume reconstructions or when donor tissue is limited, as it allows
for ample tissue to achieve desired breast volume and symmetry [20,46,47] . Additionally, with more tissue for
reconstruction, stacked free flaps allow for better volume matching and symmetry with the contralateral
native breast, subsequently requiring less reshaping [10,21] .