Breast cancer can be treated with lumpectomy. The same patterns that are used for a mastopexy (breast lift) can be used to facilitate breast cancer treatment. If a cancer lies outside of traditional patterns, then the breast lift pattern can be modified to remove the skin above the tumor when necessary. One component of breast cancer treatment for lumpectomy is…
Breast cancer reconstruction is one of the most challenging aspects of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. The surgery often involves an oncologic component that requires close attention and may require chemotherapy before and/or after surgery that needs to be completed in a timely manner. The DIEP flap uses microvascular soft tissue transplantation to transfer the skin and fat from the abdomen…
Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction is challenging. Mastectomy reconstruction in some patients can involve using the patient’s own tissue rather than implants for breast reconstruction. In the DIEP flap breast reconstruction, the lower abdominal tissue that is usually discarded in a tummy tuck is used to reconstruct the breast. The deep inferior epigastric artery and vein provides the blood supply to the…
In some breast cancer patients who have lymph node positivity or large tumors, breast cancer may be best treated with lumpectomy if radiation will be needed for either lumpectomy or mastectomy. When the breast tumor is close to the overlying skin or involves the overlying skin, the skin will need to be removed during a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The latissimus…
