Oncoplastic breast surgery (oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery) restores the breast after surgery for breast cancer. The goal is to reduce scarring and preserve as much of the existing breast tissue as possible. There are different surgical techniques and procedures and treatment usually requires the involvement of a multidisciplinary team, including plastic and oncologic surgeons.
What does oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery consist of?
Nowadays, many women can undergo both breast cancer surgery and breast reconstructive surgery. This may involve either breast reduction or mastopexy (breast lift).
When a partial or total mastectomy is required, the breast may be distorted. Therefore, during the procedure, the surgeon will remove the tumor and lymph nodes from the affected breast. This is followed by reduction or lifting of the breast to restore the natural appearance. The other breast will also be modified to ensure symmetry.
To gain access to the breast, the surgeon will need to make an incision around the nipple and areola. This is followed by an incision horizontally from the nipple to the crease of the breast and finally along this crease to create an anchor-shaped incision. The amount of tissue that is removed depends on the amount of cancerous tissue and its position in the breast. If you choose to undergo a mastectomy, all of the breast tissue is removed.
Types of breast oncoplastic surgery techniques
There are different types of breast reconstruction techniques, and the patient and surgeon decide together which is the most appropriate before surgery:
- Implant-based reconstruction - a surgeon replaces the breast with a saline or silicone gel implant.
- Reconstruction of the flap using the back muscle - an incision is made in the back, the muscle is slid under the arm towards the chest and shaped into the form of a breast.
- DIEP flap - soft tissue from the abdomen replaces the breast tissue.
Not all women can undergo both cancer and reconstructive surgery at the same time because of an underlying health problem that puts them at increased risk. In some cases, women simply prefer to wait and decide how they feel about their breast recovery after recovering from cancer. This is known as a two-stage or delayed procedure.
What is the benefit of oncoplastic breast surgery during reconstructive surgery?
The main advantage of performing both procedures simultaneously is that it requires only one operation. Therefore, the need to go through the side effects of anaesthesia and recovery from surgery twice can be avoided.
What is the recovery period?
Full recovery time takes about 6 weeks. However, some people start to feel better sooner and can return to their normal activities after 3-4 weeks.
