The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator or DIEP flap is a microsurgical technique in which blood vessels, skin and fat are taken from the lower abdomen and used to reconstruct the breast(s).

Potter explained that she was performing a bilateral DIEP flap surgery—a complex, life-changing procedure for breast cancer patients—when she was interrupted by a call from UnitedHealthcare.

Recent studies have explored the effectiveness of thermal imaging techniques in various stages of breast reconstruction, particularly with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP ...