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  • DIEP Flap - STILL HARD...

DIEP Flap - STILL HARD BELLY - 7 months out

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  • jenny102476
  • Created: May 30, 2025

I had double DIEP flap done at time of mastectomy in October 2024. Things went fine, but 7 months later, my belly is still VERY uncomfortable. I STILL have to wear a binder every day or I swell up like a melon and look four months pregnant. Even with the binder, I'm still very uncomfortable from morning to night, surrounding the belly button. I have compelted all of the OT and PT suggested (still am, actually), and my surgeon doesn't seem too worried because it can take "up to a year" for full healing. Please tell me it will get better. If this is how I will feel for the rest of my life, then this surgery was one of the worst decisions I've ever made. I realize that the pictures are pretty worthless here, because you can't show "feeling" in a picture, but these were taken in the morning. I just need to know if anyone has had this experience, and if it got better. I feel awful. Thank you. 

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