Michigan DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction and Lymphedema Reconstruction

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Michigan DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction and Lymphedema Reconstruction World-renowned. Awarding plastic surgeon specializing in DIEP flap breast reconstruction and advanced lymphedema surgery.

Expert in microsurgical, muscle sparing techniques restoring form, function, and confidence after breast cancer.

09/16/2026

Bilateral breast reconstruction after implant removal using the patient’s own nearby tissue.

Instead of replacing her implants, we reconstructed both breasts using local tissue flaps from the lateral chest and upper abdomen. This tissue was carefully mobilized and reshaped to restore breast contour and volume.

For appropriately selected patients, this technique can provide reconstruction without new implants or tissue from a distant donor site. The resulting scar pattern is similar to that of a reverse abdominoplasty and generally follows the lower breast and upper abdominal crease.

In this video, our patient shares her personal experience with the procedure, recovery, and results.

Shared with patient authorization. Every patient’s anatomy, treatment plan, recovery, and outcome are different.

09/12/2026

Implant or DIEP flap—which breast reconstruction option is right for you?

Implant reconstruction generally offers a shorter operation and initial recovery without an additional donor-site scar. However, implants are not lifetime devices, and future surgery may be necessary.

DIEP flap reconstruction uses your own lower-abdominal skin and fat while preserving the abdominal muscles. It creates a soft, natural-appearing breast using living tissue and may be especially beneficial after radiation. The tradeoffs include microsurgery, a longer recovery, and an abdominal scar.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your cancer treatment, radiation history, anatomy, health, lifestyle, and personal goals all matter.

The best breast reconstruction is the one designed specifically for you.

Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
Center of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

09/12/2026

What is latissimus flap breast reconstruction?

This procedure moves the latissimus dorsi muscle, along with skin and fat from the back, to the chest to help create a breast mound. Its blood supply usually remains attached beneath the arm.

Additional volume can be created in two primary ways:

Serial fat grafting uses fat collected through liposuction and adds it to the reconstruction over one or more procedures. This option avoids a breast implant but requires adequate donor fat and may involve multiple stages.

Implant-assisted reconstruction places an implant beneath the flap. The flap provides vascularized tissue coverage, while the implant adds volume and projection.

Neither approach is best for everyone. The decision should consider your anatomy, previous operations, radiation treatment, available donor tissue, desired breast size, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

To discuss your breast reconstruction options:

Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
Center of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, PLLC
36800 Woodward Ave, Suite 112
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Phone: (947) 274-8300
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chaiyasate-plasticsurgery.com

This video is for general education and is not a substitute for an individualized medical consultation.

09/11/2026

Ten years later—and her story continues.

A decade after DIEP flap breast reconstruction, our patient reflects on her journey and shares her experience in her own words.

Watch this one-minute testimonial and hear what this 10-year milestone means to her.

Shared with patient permission. Individual experiences and outcomes vary.

09/01/2026

Breast reconstruction is not one-size-fits-all.

Two common options after mastectomy are implant-based reconstruction and DIEP flap reconstruction.

Implant-based reconstruction uses a breast implant to restore breast shape. It may be performed as a direct-to-implant reconstruction or as a two-stage process with a tissue expander followed by implant exchange.

DIEP flap reconstruction uses the patient’s own lower abdominal skin and fat to recreate the breast, while preserving the abdominal muscles. This is a highly specialized microsurgical procedure.

Each option has advantages and tradeoffs. The best choice depends on anatomy, cancer treatment plan, radiation history or risk, recovery goals, lifestyle, and personal preference.

The goal is not simply to recreate a breast shape.
The goal is to restore confidence, comfort, and quality of life.

Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
Double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery
Center of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, PLLC

www.diepflaprecon.com
www.brcareconstruction.com
www.chaiyasate-plasticsurgery.com
(947) 274-8300

09/01/2026

Bilateral DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

For selected patients, DIEP flap surgery allows us to reconstruct the breasts using the patient’s own lower abdominal tissue rather than permanent breast implants.

Using advanced microsurgery, skin and fat from the abdomen are transferred to the chest while preserving the abdominal muscles and their function.

The goal is not simply to create a breast mound. We aim to restore natural shape, symmetry, softness, and proportion while creating a reconstruction designed for the individual patient.

This case demonstrates the before-and-after result following bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

Every reconstruction is different, and treatment should be individualized based on anatomy, previous cancer treatment, medical history, donor tissue, and the patient’s goals.

Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
Plastic & Reconstructive Microsurgery

Patient photographs shared with permission. Individual results vary.

09/01/2026

BRCA Gene
Bilateral Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
Immediate DIEP Flap Reconstruction with Resensation

For women facing hereditary breast cancer risk, reconstruction can be about more than replacing what is removed.

In this case, bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy was followed immediately by DIEP flap reconstruction using the patient’s own abdominal tissue, with resensation incorporated into the reconstructive plan.

A thoughtful reconstruction should aim to restore more than volume — it should restore form, softness, proportion, and, whenever possible, sensation.

Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
Plastic & Reconstructive Microsurgery

Patient images shared with permission. Individual results vary.

08/30/2026

Breast reconstruction does not always have to happen at the time of mastectomy.

This patient came to us seeking delayed reconstruction after previously undergoing a left mastectomy. Her goal was to restore her breast using her own tissue and achieve a natural shape and contour.

We performed delayed unilateral left breast reconstruction using a DIEP flap—transferring living skin and fat from the lower abdomen to reconstruct the breast while preserving the abdominal muscles.

For me, breast reconstruction is about more than recreating a breast. It is about giving patients options and helping them move forward on their own timeline.

There is no single “right” time for reconstruction. Whether reconstruction is immediate, delayed for months, or even years after mastectomy, there may still be options.

Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD, FACS
KC Plastic Surgery

Shared with patient authorization. Individual results vary.

08/20/2026

A very happy patient after bilateral breast implant removal and conversion to natural breast reconstruction using her own tissue with bilateral DIEP flaps.

For this reconstruction, we also performed breast resensation using nerve reconstruction techniques with the goal of restoring sensation to the reconstructed breasts.

For many patients, DIEP flap reconstruction provides an opportunity to move away from implants while creating a soft, natural breast using their own abdominal tissue.

Seeing our patients regain confidence and feel comfortable in their bodies again is one of the most rewarding parts of reconstructive surgery.

Bilateral implant removal → Bilateral DIEP flap reconstruction → Resensation

05/23/2026

Breast augmentation WITHOUT implants?? Yes — it’s possible.

Many breast cancer patients want symmetry and fullness after mastectomy, but don’t want silicone implants. Our technique solves this.

Using bilateral DIEP flaps, we take your own abdominal tissue to reconstruct the affected breast AND augment the opposite breast — all in one surgery. No implants. No risk of implant-related complications. Just your own natural tissue with permanent results.

We published this technique in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open in 2022. Since then, we have performed more than 50 successful cases with superior aesthetic outcomes.

This approach can be applied to immediate breast reconstruction, delayed reconstruction, and even salvage for failed implant-based reconstruction.

If you or someone you know is considering breast reconstruction, we would love to help.

Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Microsurgery and DIEP Flap Specialist
Center of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, PLLC
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

www.chaiyasate-plasticsurgery.com
www.diepflaprecon.com
www.brcareconstruction.com

Address

36800 Woodward Avenue, Suite 112
Bloomfield Hills, MI
48304

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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