DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Houston, TX |
Murillo Plastic Surgery
Are you seeking a natural, long-lasting solution to restore your breasts after a mastectomy, but without including implants? At Murillo Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Murillo specializes in DIEP flap breast reconstruction, a transformative procedure that uses your own abdominal tissue to create soft, beautifully sculpted breasts. This advanced technique preserves your muscle integrity and delivers results that look and feel remarkably natural.
Dr. Carlos Murillo leads our Houston-based practice and is recognized for combining surgical expertise with compassionate care. Dr. Murillo has helped countless women reclaim their confidence and a sense of wholeness through personalized reconstruction plans tailored to their anatomy, lifestyle, and goals. Patients from Houston, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Katy, and beyond seek treatment and trust Dr. Murillo for his excellent approach and unwavering commitment to restoring both the form and function of their breasts.
To speak with our team or schedule a consultation, call (832) 582-8114 or reach out online. Murillo Plastic Surgery welcomes patients from all across the greater Houston area, including The Woodlands, Cypress, Katy, Sugar Land, and Pearland. We also care for women traveling from out of state and abroad.
What Is a DIEP Flat Breast Reconstruction?
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is an advanced, muscle-preserving breast reconstruction technique that uses skin, fat, and blood vessels from your abdomen to reconstruct the breasts after a mastectomy. Unlike old methods like the TRAM flap, which sacrifices abdominal muscles, the DIEP flap preserves muscle integrity, which reduces recovery time and minimizes long-term complications.
This technique is generally performed using microsurgery, where the transferred tissue is reconnected to blood vessels in the chest to ensure healthy blood flow and natural integrity. The results are soft, lifelike breasts that age and move more naturally than breast implants. An added benefit of this approach is a flatter, tighter abdomen.
What Should You Expect During a DIEP Flat Breast Reconstruction Consultation?
At Murillo Plastic Surgery, your journey towards breast reconstruction starts with compassion, clarity, and expert guidance from Dr. Murillo and our entire medical team. We know that considering a DIEP flap procedure after mastectomy is a deeply delicate and personal decision. That’s why we prioritize timely consultation, often scheduling within one or two days of your initial call, so you can begin exploring your options without delay.
During your consultation, Dr. Murillo will take the time to thoroughly understand your story, from the initial diagnosis to your reconstruction goals. With his specialized training in microsurgery techniques, he’ll evaluate your anatomy, review your medical history, and determine whether you’re a good candidate for DIEP flap reconstruction.
Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from a consultation:
- Dedicated one-on-one time with Dr. Murillo
- Thorough medical evaluation, including assessment of abdominal tissue, breast tissue, and your overall health
- Education on DIEP flap surgery, including how it compares to other reconstruction options, what the procedure involves, and what recovery may look like.
- Personalized treatment planning tailored to your anatomy, cancer treatment timeline, and aesthetic preferences.
- Supportive coordination from our experienced staff to guide you through insurance, scheduling, and post-operative care.
DIEP Flap Reconstruction is the most common form of breast reconstruction for our practice, as Dr. Murillo specializes in microvascular surgery. This approach uses the tissue from your lower abdomen to rebuild a soft, natural-feeling breast.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: How It’s Done
DIEP flap breast reconstruction is a highly specialized procedure that rebuilds the breasts using your own natural tissues. It’s named after the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) artery, which supplies blood to the skin and fat in your lower abdomen. This technique offers the most natural look and feel while preserving core muscle strength and minimizing long-term complications.
Step 1: Harvest the Flap
Dr. Murillo begins by carefully removing a section of skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower abdomen—similar to the tissue removed during a tummy tuck. Importantly, the abdominal muscles are left intact, which helps maintain strength and reduces recovery time.Step 2: Microsurgical Transfer
Using advanced microsurgery, the blood vessels from the abdominal tissue are meticulously reconnected to vessels in the chest. This ensures the transferred tissue remains healthy and well-perfused, allowing it to integrate naturally into the breast area.Step 3: Shaping the New Breasts
Once the tissue is in place, Dr. Murillo sculpts it to create a breast mound that matches your body and aesthetic goals. If needed, additional procedures—such as nipple reconstruction or symmetry adjustments—can be performed later.Step 4: Closing the Donor Site
The abdominal area is closed with care, often resulting in a flatter, tighter contour similar to a cosmetic tummy tuck. Most patients appreciate the dual benefit of breast reconstruction and abdominal rejuvenation.
Why Choose Murillo Plastic Surgery For Your DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Houston, TX?
Choosing Dr. Carlos Murillo for your DIEP flap breast reconstruction means entrusting your care to one of Houston’s most respected and compassionate plastic surgeons. As a board-certified specialist and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Texas at Houston’s Plastic Surgery department, Dr. Murillo brings exceptional expertise in microsurgical breast reconstruction, with a particular focus on the DIEP flap technique.
His commitment to restoring not just physical form but emotional well-being is what truly sets him apart. Patients benefit from his meticulous approach, personalized treatment planning, and deep understanding of the unique journey that follows breast cancer. With services available at 15 hospitals across Houston and the Greater Houston area, Dr. Murillo ensures that world-class care is never far from home.
Fluent in Spanish and Tagalog, and expanding outreach to the Vietnamese-speaking community, the practice aims to foster an inclusive environment where every patient feels seen, heard, and supported. From your first consultation to your final follow-up, Dr. Murillo and his team deliver compassionate, culturally sensitive care that prioritizes your comfort, confidence, and long-term recovery.
Carlos Murillo, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
What Sets Us Apart:
- Timely Access to Care: We schedule most breast reconstruction consultations within 24–48 hours. When you’re dealing with cancer, you shouldn’t have to wait.
- In-Network with Major Insurance Providers: Unlike many plastic surgery practices, we work directly with most commercial insurance plans to make your care more accessible and affordable.
- Global and Multicultural Patient Support: We proudly welcome patients from all backgrounds and offer personalized care in multiple languages with culturally sensitive communication.
- Personalized Communication: You can email our practice directly and expect a same-day response. Dr. Murillo believes every patient deserves timely answers and constant reassurance.
- Integrated Surgical Coordination: As the lead reconstructive provider for numerous major hospital systems in Houston, we collaborate closely with your breast surgeon, oncologist, and care team to create seamless, coordinated treatment.
- Elegant, Private Office Setting: Located on the 8th floor of the Women’s Hospital, our office overlooks the Texas Medical Center and offers a peaceful, private environment where you’ll be treated with respect and dignity.
Ideal Candidates For DIEP Flat Breast Reconstruction
DIEP flap breast reconstruction candidates are typically those who have undergone or are planning on undergoing a mastectomy or have experienced some kind of physical trauma to the breasts and prefer a non-implant approach to rebuilding the breasts.
Ideal candidates must have sufficient abdominal tissue to create a natural breast mound and should desire a more natural look and feel than implants can provide. Good candidates should also be in overall good health, with no condition that could potentially impair healing. Non-smokers or those willing to quit smoking before surgery are essential, and you should have realistic expectations surrounding the results.
At Murillo Plastic Surgery, Dr. Murillo conducts thorough evaluations of his patients’ anatomy, medical history, and personal goals to determine if DIEP flat breast reconstruction is the right fit. Every surgical plan is customized according to the safety, aesthetics, and long-term satisfaction of his patients.
What Can You Expect on the Day of Your DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
On the day of your DIEP flap breast reconstruction, you’ll arrive at your preferred Houston hospital. Our facilities are selected based on their ability to provide high acuity one-on-one care as well as operating room capabilities.
You’ll be greeted by our compassionate patient coordinator, who will walk you through the final check-in and pre-surgical steps. Once you’re comfortably settled, Dr. Murillo will meet with you to review your personalized surgical plan one last time. Using a skin-safe surgical marker, he’ll make detailed markings on your abdomen and chest to guide tissue harvest and breast shaping with precision and artistry.
During this time, Dr. Murillo will explain where incisions will be placed on both the abdomen and chest and how your abdominal tissue will be transferred and sculpted. He’ll also review the microsurgical techniques he’ll use to reconnect the blood vessels and the type of sutures and dressings that will be applied.
Once everything is ready, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia, allowing you to rest peacefully throughout the procedure. DIEP flap reconstruction typically takes 6-8 hours, depending on the complexity and whether one or both breasts are being reconstructed.
After surgery, you’ll be transferred to a private recovery suite where our attentive nursing team will monitor you closely. Comfort, safety, and dignity are our top priorities as you begin your healing journey. Most patients stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days to ensure optimal recovery and full support.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Recovery
Recovery after DIEP flat breast reconstruction surgery is a gradual process that prioritizes your rest and healing through attentive care. Most patients remain in the hospital for 2 to 3 days following surgery, where they are closely monitored to ensure proper blood flow to the reconstructed breast and manage post-operative discomfort. Surgical drains are typically placed in both the abdomen and chest to remove excess fluid and reduce swelling.
Before leaving the hospital, you will receive detailed instructions on wound care and limitations in activities. While your abdomen may feel tight and sore initially, pain can be managed with prescribed medication, and most patients feel well enough to begin walking during the first post operative day. Over the next several weeks, swelling will subside, energy will return, and patients will gradually resume normal activities.
Full recovery typically takes 4-6 weeks, depending on your individual health and the extent of your surgery.
Schedule Your DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Consultation at Murillo Plastic Surgery
Ready to take the next step in your healing journey with compassionate, expert care? Contact Murillo Plastic Surgery today to schedule your complimentary consultation for DIEP flap breast reconstruction with Dr. Carlos Murillo. Conveniently located in the heart of Houston, our practice proudly serves patients in our neighboring communities and beyond. Whether you’re newly navigating breast cancer treatment or exploring reconstruction options post-mastectomy, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Call us at (832) 582-8114 or complete our online consultation form to begin your path toward restoration, confidence, and renewed strength.
DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction FAQS— Houston, TX
What is DIEP flap breast reconstruction?
DIEP flap surgery is a type of breast reconstruction that uses skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower abdomen to rebuild the breast after mastectomy.
How long does DIEP flap surgery take?
The procedure typically lasts between 6 to 8 hours, depending on whether it’s unilateral or bilateral reconstruction.
What are the benefits of DIEP flap reconstruction?
Patients benefit from natural-looking results and abdominal contouring similar to a tummy tuck. It also avoids the use of implants and preserves abdominal muscles.
Will the reconstructed breast match my natural breast?
While initial differences may exist, revision surgeries and nipple-areola tattooing can enhance symmetry and aesthetic outcomes.
How common is DIEP flap surgery?
Although technically complex, DIEP flap procedures are gaining popularity as more surgeons acquire microsurgical expertise.
What is the success rate of DIEP flap reconstruction?
Top surgical centers report success rates over 97%, with low complication rates when performed by experienced microsurgeons.
Can DIEP flap surgery be done at the same time as a mastectomy?
Yes, it can be performed as immediate reconstruction during mastectomy or delayed until after cancer treatment is complete.
Is DIEP flap surgery covered by insurance?
In most cases, breast reconstruction after mastectomy, including DIEP flap, is covered by insurance under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act.