Breast preservation surgery is a surgical procedure done to remove cancer from the breast while preserving as much of the breast tissue as possible. The goal of this surgery is to remove all of the cancer while preserving as much of the breast tissue as possible. There are many benefits to choosing breast preservation surgery over a mastectomy. Some of these benefits include:
- You keep your breast
- Your nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple) are usually not removed
- It preserves the natural shape of your breast
- It leaves the skin intact, which can make reconstruction easier
- There is a lower risk of infection
- The surgery is typically shorter than a mastectomy
Breast conservation surgery is also referred to as segmental mastectomy, breast-sparing surgery, quadrantectomy, partial mastectomy, and lumpectomy.
Breast preservation surgery is performed as a day care procedure as it usually takes two to three hours. This means you will not have to stay overnight in the hospital.
During breast surgery, the surgeon may follow this process:
- During the surgery, the patient's blood oxygen level, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate will be checked.
- An intravenous or IV line is started in the patient's arm. This is used to give the patient fluids and medicine during surgery.
- The surgeon makes an incision around the areola (the dark area around the nipple).
- The surgeon removes the cancerous tissue from the breast.
- The surgeon may also remove some lymph nodes from under the arm to check for cancer spread.
- The surgeon closes the incisions with stitches.
- A drain may be placed under the skin to help remove excess fluid.
- The surgery is completed and the patient is taken to a recovery room.