Six weeks after my DIEP surgery, I thought I’d be further ahead.

In the beginning, I was so positive. Maybe even a little arrogant. On day five, I was already walking 2 kilometers. Then 3, then 5. By two weeks, I had added light exercises and was averaging 5 kilometers a day. At the hospital they told me I was healing beautifully. I believed them.

Healing. One imperfect day at a time.

Those first days - proud, almost arrogant. I thought every step meant I was winning over surgery.

Six weeks post-DIEP: irritation, tiny stitch ‘holes,’ and the unpredictable reality of healing.

As if the right plaster could fix everything - my scar, my mood, my impatience.

Then came our trip to Spain. I had imagined swimming in the sea as part of my recovery. Instead, no swimming, no freedom, only the frustration of being told not yet. I felt stripped of joy.

The sea was there - shimmering, inviting, but I could only watch. Healing said: not yet.

Not every day can be about progress. Sometimes healing means sitting quietly, naming the frustration, and letting it be.

To keep the scars as fine and esthetic as possible, I was advised to use micropore plaster continuously for 3 months. The idea is simple: the plaster supports the scar while it matures, helps prevent it from widening, and reduces tension. For a while it worked.

But by week four, my skin was raw from irritation. By week five, something worse appeared: a small, inflamed hole under the breast. Back to the hospital. They reassured me that this was common. Dissolvable stitches sometimes don’t dissolve; they push out through the skin, leaving little “holes.” Normal, yes. Comfortable, no.

More holes appeared. More inflammation. My confidence collapsed.
I stopped exercising. I felt ill, fragile, miserable. I spent hours taking photos of my wounds, checking them every few minutes to see if they were getting better. I began ordering all kinds of plasters online, as if the right product might rescue my mood. Eventually I switched to silicone plaster, which was gentler on my skin, but the damage was already done to my spirit.

Looking back, I see how quickly I went from pride to collapse. Healing is not a straight line. It is not measured in kilometers walked, or how early you return to exercise. It is slow, messy, and unpredictable. Sometimes it means surrendering your plans, listening to your body, and accepting that scars take time.

If you are six weeks post-DIEP and frustrated, please know this: the holes, the irritations, the setbacks - they are often normal. And you are not alone.

What helped me (and might help you)

• Micropore plaster: excellent for keeping scars flat and esthetic long term, but watch for irritation. Three months is recommended, but not every skin can handle it.

• Silicone plaster: softer and more breathable, especially if the skin gets inflamed.

• Wound “holes”: often caused by dissolvable stitches surfacing. They look dramatic but are usually normal. Still, always check with your hospital if you’re unsure.

• Rest: I learned the hard way that healing is not about how much you can do, but about knowing when to pause.

• Permission to feel low: the mental side is as tough as the physical. Naming the frustration is part of healing too.

Read also: One week after DIEP surgery. Returning home to my body.