Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

When a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer they may require surgery to remove the cancerous area from the breast. Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is a common process used by surgeons to achieve this. During the procedure a lumpectomy is combined with plastic surgery to remove cancer and then reconstruct the breast.

At New Victoria Hospital, our multidisciplinary Breast Team features leading Breast surgeons, first-rate nurses, and specialist physiotherapists. From the initial breast cancer screening to the oncological care that follows (for all stages of breast cancer), our friendly and attentive team are on hand to make sure you feel comfortable and reassured during your visits. With access to state-of-the-art breast screening technology our breast specialists ensure every patient enjoys the highest standard of care.

What is Oncoplastic Breast Surgery?

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is a relatively new surgical procedure that combines a lumpectomy with plastic surgery to remove the cancerous area from the breast and then reconstruct it. Cosmetic surgery is incorporated into the procedure in order to preserve as much of the patient’s breast as possible and minimise scarring.

There are generally two stages of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. These are:

Nearby tissue is taken from the surgery location to fill in the space left behind by the surgery, this is to ensure there are no dents, holes or gaps left in the breast. This method can also be used to arrange the scar in a less visible location making it more cosmetically pleasing for the patient.
After surgery, cosmetic procedures such as a reduction mammoplasty (breast reduction), a mastopexy (breast lift), or both are used to reconstruct the breast for the patient.

There are other procedures that surgeons can use to reshape the breast after removing the cancer however, this depends on the cancer’s location and size. The surgeon will discuss the options with the patient prior to the surgery to tailor the procedure specifically to the individual woman’s breasts, body, and preferences. In some cases, surgery may be required on both breasts to make them look as similar as possible.

The benefits of having Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

By combining breast surgery and cosmetic reconstruction into one operation it means the patient will only be required to sit through one surgery. This means the patient will have a better physical recovery as they will only require one recovery period, rather than two if the procedures were separated.

With reconstruction pre-organised in the surgery plan, surgeons can remove more of the breast tissue around the surgery location site, resulting in higher success rates of removing cancerous tumours.

The aim of the surgery is to help maintain an aesthetically pleasing breast for the patient after all of the treatment for cancer is complete. This can help maintain emotional stability in patients following the surgery. By reconstructing the patient’s breast, the patient’s self-esteem and self-confidence levels are typically much higher.

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at New Victoria Hospital

When deciding whether Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is the right method for treating a patient’s breast cancer, our breast specialists will first consider how big the cancerous area is in proportion to the breast and the stage in which it has progressed. They will also take into consideration the patient’s overall health and pre-existing medical conditions.

Once all of these things have been reviewed, our renowned team at New Victoria Hospital will direct you on the best course of action for treating breast cancer, providing extensive treatment plans and assisting with patient recovery after surgery.

Recovery after the surgery

Recover times can differ for each individual depending on the surgical procedure they received and the stage in which the cancer was prior to the surgery. It is important you take the steps to help you achieve a healthy recovery.

Following Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, the patient will usually be offered radiotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This is done so all cancerous cells in the breast are completely removed to reduce the chances of the cancer spreading or reappearing again in the future.

Whilst receiving follow-up radiotherapy, some patients may be required to adjust their normal activities for a while whilst they recover. This is due to the after-effects of radiotherapy which can make many patients tired and emotionally drained.

Even after a patient has been given the all-clear, they may be required to attend follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process following breast surgery. The doctor will usually ask the patient to attend future check-ups to monitor the breast condition and screen for potential recurrent cancer.