Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Being able to share my work with you is such a gift! So in the spirit of spreading awareness here are some of my recent warriors!

DIEP flap graft reconstruction

On a single mastectomy. A DIEP flap is a type of breast reconstruction in which blood vessels called deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEP), as well as the skin and fat connected to them, are removed from the lower abdomen and transferred to the chest to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy without the sacrifice of any of the abdominal muscles.

Radiation Damage

Radiation injures or kills healthy cells as well as cancer cells in the treated area. Repeated radiation exposure causes an imbalance in tissue damage and repair so that exposed skin is damaged faster than it can repair itself.

There are many challenges when working on radiated tissue sites including hyperpigmentation, compromised skin texture and tissue. Another challenge is understanding the differences between radiated tissue and non radiated tissue when working IN the skin creating a realistic nipple areola complex restoration.

Prophylactic Mastectomy

Our warrior had prophylactic mastectomy. Prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove one or both breasts to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. You can see here the reconstruction of a nipple and the final result with paramedical tattooing.