@gle33
The recovery was hard. Initially it was hard to even sit up. The extreme pain was gone after a few days (they gave Tylenol 3 with morphine to help). I would recommend staying in the hospital for at least the first 3 days. I went into that operation fairly fit from working out daily and only had the DIEP flap on one side. Having a DIEP on both sides would probably be harder. My opposite breast was exclusively implant. I walked around the hospital hallway by the next day. I think I remember being able to get out of bed by myself by the third day. When I went home it was slow moving and walking for at least 1-2 weeks. Manageable with little support. No lifting heavy things.