DIEP flap surgery is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that uses skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower belly to rebuild the breast after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. During the procedure, a surgeon removes a section of abdominal skin and fat, along with the associated blood vessels, and uses complex microsurgical techniques to attach the blood vessels to the ones in the chest. The skin and fat are then used to create a breast. The procedure is muscle-sparing, so no abdominal muscles are cut or removed. The resulting abdominal contour improvement is an added benefit for many patients. The DIEP flap procedure can work well for many patients, but it is important that the choice takes into consideration the patients body. A plastic surgeon with specialized training in microvascular tissue transfer performs DIEP flap surgery. The procedure can be done at the same time as breast cancer surgery (immediate reconstruction) or after (delayed reconstruction) . Many patients have procedures following DIEP flap that include shaping of the reconstructed breasts, breast lifts or reductions of their natural breast, and nipple reconstructions to achieve the best symmetry possible.