Many breast surgeons continue to remove the nipples when performing mastectomy—resulting in disfigured breasts and a loss of self-confidence for the patient. The good news is, there is another option available. Learn more about nipple-sparing mastectomy below.
What Is Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?
Most breast cancers can be treated without removing the nipples. A nipple-sparing mastectomy is safe in almost all patients except those in which cancer is found in the nipple (5%). The procedure is performed using a small incision hidden in the crease below the breast, and the breasts are reconstructed through that incision, leaving the skin and areola intact.
This technique allows us to give our patients breasts that look beautiful and natural. Learn more about this procedure in our related blog post.
Advantages of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
A nipple-sparing mastectomy preserves nipple sensation while also preserving the aesthetic appearance of the breasts. The procedure also comes with very low complication rates, higher survival rates than non-nipple-sparing mastectomies, and minimal postoperative discomfort.
Trust the Breast Specialists
Women facing breast cancer deserve to know all their options and be offered the most effective treatment available—to achieve the best aesthetic outcomes possible. If you would like to learn more about nipple-sparing mastectomy at Bedford Breast Cancer, we encourage you to contact our office in Beverly Hills online or call (310) 278-8590 today.
This blog post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated.