If you’ve done much research at all on DIEP flap breast reconstruction, you probably already know it’s a doozey of a procedure. With a long recovery timeline, there’s definitely some prep work that needs to be done before surgery!

For those reading this who may not be familiar, DIEP flap reconstruction uses your own belly fat to reconstruct your breasts after a mastectomy. Of course, that means an additional incision and area to heal as compared to using implants. This generally means more pain and healing time, BUT there are definitely some benefits to this procedure! I have another article on why I chose DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my post on preparing for a mastectomy. Everything in that article applies here, but there are a few things I’m going to emphasize in this article. That’s because with a mastectomy you lose function with your pectoral muscles, but with DIEP you lose function with both pectorals and abs! So some things that are simply beneficial for a mastectomy are a game-changer with DIEP!

If Possible, Get a Lift Chair

This was an absolute life saver for me! I had a friend who graciously allowed me to borrow his lift chair for three weeks, and I pretty much lived in that thing. I spent my days in it, and I slept in it. Standing up from a chair or recliner requires some ab work, so the lift chair helps hoist you up enough you can just lean forward and let your thighs do the work.

After my surgery day, I spent the next three days in the hospital. Then I spent three weeks in the lift chair before transitioning to a regular recliner. I lived and slept on the recliner for another few weeks before sleeping in my bed with a wedge pillow.

But If You Can’t Get a Lift Chair…

It may be possible to borrow a lift chair from a friend or rent it from a home health store. If not, however, and you’d rather not buy one, have no fear! There are plenty of women who have DIEP and make do without the lift chair. Some have a wedge pillow or pile o’pillows on the bed to help keep them from rolling onto their sides. (You can’t sleep on your side – nor will you want to! – for a couple months.)

I’ve also heard from ladies who slept flat in the bed like regular and learned how to roll out of bed. Personally, this hurt too much. Even two months out I tried this roll-out method and darn near got stuck because of the pain. I also couldn’t use my abs or my arms to push me (you’ll have a 10-pound weight limit). It’s funny now, but I was not amused at the time.

Four drains, a surgical bra, and my abdominal scar nine days after DIEP flap.

Set Up DIEP Flap Base Camp

My ability to stretch out my arms was limited after my mastectomy, but I definitely had T-Rex arms after my reconstruction! I was all proud of myself for setting up my base camp before leaving for the hospital. I had my vitamin C supplements, pain pills, water, a book, Sudoku, hand lotion, iPod, lip balm – y’all, I was set! And then I realized I needed each of those items to be along the ledge closest to me because I simply couldn’t reach across the end table.

I definitely recommend setting up a base camp wherever you plan on spending most of your time after surgery. If you find you’re more mobile than expected, then good on ya! But if you’re as uncomfortable as I was, you’ll want one location with all your goodies nearby. Consider prioritizing your items by use, and placing items you’ll use a lot within closer reach if space is a premium.

Consider a Walker

I get it, this one hurts a little bit. Especially as a 33-year-old when I had reconstruction, I felt pretty humbled to be using a walker at home. But it actually made life easier! It wasn’t so much that I was unsteady on my feet.

When you have that flap taken from your abdomen, you’re losing a chunk of skin that was there, and the ends are sewn back together. So your abdomen not only has to heal, but the skin there has to grow and stretch a little in order for you to stand up straight again. You can’t stay in your living room chair 24/7, you’ll need to walk around occasionally. But in my case, my tight abdominal skin and hunched back made my back hurt when I was walking, and the walker helped to support my back so it didn’t hurt as much.

Some ladies I’ve seen walk upright within a week. For me, it was closer to a month. You may only need the walker for a week or two, so again this is a good thing to just borrow and not buy if possible. But it definitely helped me out for that time period!

Also, you can often buy pouches that strap onto the front of your walker to carry small things, like a book or a snack. This is helpful if you need to grab something from another room but need your hands free for your return trip.

The hospital will have you get up and walk around a bit before you can go home. So here I am taking a lap around my floor, holding onto something to help support my back since I was hunched over.

Showering Options

Between the pain and the inability to stand upright, bathing can be a real pain in the bum for a bit after surgery. You’ll also likely have a drain in each breast and each hip to contend with. I know some ladies who showered as soon as they got home from the hospital, and more power to them! With a handheld showerhead and a shower chair, they were able to get the job done. And I do recommend the shower chair because with a hunched back and your energy zapped, that chair will come in handy.

But for those like me who weren’t ready to deal with that song and dance just yet, disposable washcloths and dry shampoo work wonders. You should be able to get the washcloths at a home health store or pharmacy. I admit they have a certain smell to them that reminds me of baby powder and nursing homes… But frankly that showering thing wasn’t happening and hygiene is important, so yes please to those washcloths!

To give you an idea of timeline, I took an actual shower about two weeks after my DIEP flap reconstruction. The washcloths held me over till then.

Regarding Clothing

Tops

Similar to the mastectomy post, I highly recommend the HealinComfort shirt! No joke, I lived in this thing until I had my drains removed! (Other than when it was being washed, of course.) Easy-open front with Velcro, lightweight, easy to layer, and four large drain pockets. I had debated about getting it because of the cost (was it really necessary??), but I was sooooo glad I had gotten it!! If you’re still not sure, you can read my full review of the shirt here.

Pants and PJs

Because you’ll have an abdominal scar that’s tender, loose clothes are a must. Sweatpants that aren’t too tight, zip-up hoodies, button-up flannels, Lularoe leggings that are a bit roomy, PJ sets that are a size up with open-front tops – all of these things are good options. I got a few flannel PJ sets from the thrift store, which was cozy because my surgery was in November. I lived in my HealinComfort shirt, loose pants, and zip-up hoodies until I had my drains removed. Then I switched to the sweats and PJ sets.

Compression Garment

You’ll also need a set of spanx, or some sort of compression garment that covers your abdomen and thighs. Your surgeon should go over all this with you as it’s an important part of the healing process.

A Robe Helped!

Also once my drains were removed, I wore my Radiant Robe a lot! This is especially a good option if you live in warmer areas. I could pull on a loose Hanes men’s tank top (aka “wife beaters,” though I know that’s a terrible name) without lifting my arms too high, then cover up with the Radiant Robe. The lightweight material didn’t bother my incisions. It’s long enough to be modest and cover my bum with leggings, and looks good enough I can wear it when I leave the house. You can read my full review of the Robe here, and if you use code BETHD5 you’ll get 5% off.

Wearing my HealinComfort shirt to my surgery follow-up appointments. I LOVE this shirt since it’s easy-open with the Velcro down the middle and the pockets it has for drains on the inside. It’s lightweight and breatheable. And the front-opening means I don’t have to wear a paper gown at doctor appointments.

You’ll Want Someone To Stay With You

Whereas you may need a family member to stay with you for a couple days or a week after a mastectomy, you’ll certainly want someone to stay for a week or two after DIEP flap reconstruction! Or heck, a month… Y’all, hear me when I say you use your pectorals and your abs way more than you realize in your day-to-day activities! Just to plop down in your recliner or on the loo, you use your abs to steady you. Oh, and then you want to actually push while you’re on the loo? Gonna need abs for that. (Pro tip: definitely start on stool softeners soon – it’ll keep you from having to push so much for your bowel movements.)

And don’t forget about your T-Rex arms. I suggest keeping a reachy grabby thingy close to your base camp, because even dropping your lip balm on the floor and trying to pick it back up is an effort! Unless you can sumo squat your way to the floor and lift yourself back up (which, by the way, uses your abs), you’ll definitely want a handy dandy picker-upper thing.

It’s hard to do the dailies with a hunched back, no abs, no pectorals, and minimal reach. So having a friend who can help with meals, do a load of laundry, take care of the kids (both human and furry), and just lend a hand is super helpful!

Packing for the Hospital

Even though you’ll be there a few days, you really won’t need much. You’ll need your going-home clothes, which you could just wear to the hospital since you won’t be in them long. Wear slip-on shoes, loose-fitting pants, and an open-front shirt. If you’re not taking a shirt like HealinComfort that has drain pockets, be sure to take a few safety pins so you can pin the drain bulbs to your clothes.

If your hair is long enough, I suggest putting it in a high bun to keep it out of your way for your hospital stay. If it’s not long enough, you may want some dry shampoo and bobby pins to keep it tamed. Don’t forget your toothbrush and toothpaste.

Have some lip balm, hand lotion, and eye drops in your bag. The hospital air is dry, and my eyes are even drier after PRK eye surgery, so the eye drops are darn handy. I also recommend an extra-long phone charging cord at 6 or 10 ft. You can take a book or other entertainment if you want to. I had high hopes of reading a whole book during my stay, but I barely cracked it open. Between the pain meds, discomfort, and interrupted sleep, I didn’t have much mobility or thought to give to a book. Instead, I mainly just played on my phone when I was bored.

Leaving The Hospital

I definitely suggest a mastectomy pillow to spare your new boobs and abdomen from the seatbelt! Take it to the hospital with you for surgery, but you can leave it in the car till you leave. (Or just set it out so your ride remembers to bring it when they pick you up.)

Also, here’s a fun fact about the ride home… You won’t have use of your ab muscles! You don’t realize how often you use them to brace yourself when stopping or turning the car until you’re on the way home from surgery. If you have a choice in the matter, you may want to pick someone you know drives smoothly for your ride home. If not, you’ll likely have to inform them to take turns slowly and not brake at the last minute.

Everyone needs a bathroom selfie in their life, right? These bruises on my torso are what fat grafting looks like as it heals. There’s bruising and soreness, but overall it’s a pretty easy surgery.

Revision Surgeries

Take heart in knowing that if you need any follow-up revisions, these are a cakewalk compared to the initial surgery! You’ll likely be sore for a couple weeks from the fat grafting (aka liposuction), and you’ll be itchy as you heal. Otherwise it’s just a matter of waiting for your weight and mobility restrictions to be lifted. You’ll also need your compression garment for these procedures, and once again you won’t be able to sleep on your side… I seriously think that’s one of the worse parts.

Final Thoughts

Let me just say, I had a lot of pain and discomfort from my DIEP flap reconstruction. That’s nothing against my plastic surgeons – they’ve been stellar! I know of other women, specifically those who went to PRMA, who had minimal pain… Truthfully I don’t know how. But at the end of the day I am so glad I went with DIEP flap and would still choose it if I knew then what I know now! Prepare for a month of a lot of discomfort, and know it’ll get better over time.

And if it’s not as uncomfortable as you expected – bonus!!

If you’re near Columbus, Ohio or willing to travel there, I highly recommend Mid-Ohio Breast & Aesthetic Surgery! I have several friends who have all gone to this center, and all of us are pleased with our results and recommend them to others.

If you’ve already had DIEP flap breast reconstruction, can you think of anything I missed or that you found helpful? If so, feel free to leave me a comment below!

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