Breast cancer can often be successfully treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Often as part of mastectomy or lumpectomy reconstruction patients will get either a nipple areola complex tattoo or pattern tattoo placed on the breast. Pink ribbons, vines, flowers, etc. are often excellent patterns that can be placed to complete a reconstruction or conceal incisions. The photograph demonstrates before…
Breast cancer is a common cancer among women. There are two different surgical ways to treat breast cancer. One way is to perform a mastectomy and the other way is to perform a lumpectomy. One simple but consistent way to approach the question to have either a lumpectomy or mastectomy is the size of the tumor relative to the size…
Many breast cancer patients have been treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy. In some patients, the lumpectomy defect and the whole breast radiation can cause significant changes or deformities to the breast. In the before and after photograph shown, the patient had previous right breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and radiation. The lumpectomy defect as well as the whole breast…
Tumors of the breast that are located superior to the areola within a certain distance can be removed with bilateral crescent mastopexy incisions. These incisions are placed superior to the areola and in a crescent pattern. The resulting scar ends in the superior portion of the areola and the nipple is positioned in a higher position relative to the previous…
Often patients with breast cancer who undergo lumpectomy have implants in place that may have been ruptured or are not in anatomical position. Often these patients wish to have the mammary prosthesis removed at the time of lumpectomy while their cancer is being effectively treated. Removal of the mammary prosthesis and improvement of the shape of the breast can improve…
In patients with DCIS or breast cancer, the cancer can be removed using patterns to improve the appearance or shape of the breast. These patterns accomplish several things: 1) It allows large margins to be obtained as well as the overlying skin. 2) It prevents a post-operative lumpectomy defect. 3) It improves the appearance of the breast and “psyche” of…
Breast cancer lumpectomy defects can be closed with plastic & reconstructive surgical techniques. Often times at the time of a lumpectomy for breast cancer, patients choose to remove their mammary prosthesis. Removal of the mammary prosthesis can create a potential space where fluid can accumulate in the post-operative period. Patterns used to reduce this post operative space and at the…
