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…
Radiation is a therapy that patients will receive post-lumpectomy. After the oncoplastic reconstruction of the lumpectomy defect, patients will have tattoos or stickers placed to help guide the radiation beam. Radiation therapy typically occurs 6 weeks post lumpectomy. It is important for patients to eat a high protein diet post surgery to facilitate wound healing prior to initiating radiation therapy.
Lumpectomy is a treatment for breast cancer. When a breast cancer has been removed, the resulting defect can accumulate with fluid and has the potential to become infected. The closure of this space with Plastic & Reconstructive surgical techniques can help reduce this potential space and reduce the risk of infection post-operatively. This is important in patients who will need…
In women who are undergoing lumpectomy for breast cancer, the resulting lumpectomy defect can be closed with oncoplastic techniques to not only improve the resulting cosmetic outcome, but to also facilitate delivery of radiation, and in some instances facilitate delivery of chemotherapy. The lumpectomy defect is closed with dissolvable sutures. It is important to keep protein nutrition high before and…
In patients who have a breast cancer with a small diameter, the cancer or DCIS can be effectively removed with a lumpectomy. The oncoplastic reconstruction can facilitate the delivery of radiation by creating a more compact target for the radiation beam. The lifted appearance to the breasts often allows patients to feel better about themselves even though they have just…
Patients who undergo lumpectomy and radiation therapy have a higher rate of capsular contracture of their mammary prosthesis. The capsular contracture causes the normal lining around a breast implant to become thicker. This then causes the implant/soft tissue construct to become indurated and firm. Removing the mammary prosthesis can present the recurrence of the capsular contracture. Patient satisfaction is quite…
Treatment of breast cancer with lumpectomy is a viable option for many patients. Often the same patterns that are used to lift the breast can be used to resect tumors from the breast. Often the most commonly used pattern is the Wise pattern. When the breast cancer resides outside of the normal pattern, then the Wise pattern is modified to…
Incisions on the breast such as mastopexy Wise-patterns, crescents, T-lifts, etc. take several months to years to mature. In general we tell patients not to apply any creams or lotions on the skin for 4-6 weeks after surgery. After six weeks, silicone sheets can be applied to the scar to flatten the scar or prevent hypertrophic scars or keloid scars.…
Radiation of mammary prosthesis can increase the chances of capsular contracture following lumpectomy for breast cancer. When patients experience a capsular contracture, they generally feel a tightness around the breast pocket and the implant tends to displace superiorly beneath the pectoralis major muscle if the implant is sub-pectoral. Treatment of the capsular contracture involves removal of all or some of…
