A DIEP flap breast reconstruction is essentially the same procedure as a free TRAM flap breast reconstruction, but does not involve moving muscle.
It is a slightly more complicated operation than the free TRAM flap because the blood vessels need to be carefully separated from the muscle before the tissue flap can be moved.
A DIEP flap breast reconstruction is an option for about two-thirds of women who are not suitable to have a TRAM flap breast reconstruction. A DIEP flap breast reconstruction can take 5–8 hours.
Some women need to have a CT angiography before they can have DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. This is a scan to check whether the blood vessels in the abdomen are suitable for a DIEP flap. A dye is injected into a vein in the arm. The dye moves around the body and a scan is taken when the dye reaches the blood vessels in the abdomen.
