Dr. Archa Prasad

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Skin sparing mastectomy

For  a skin-sparing mastectomy, 

the surgeon removes:

– All the breast tissue, the nipple.

– In some cases the areola. 

but most of the skin over the breast is left intact.

 

 

Usually, a sentinel lymph node dissection or axillary lymph node dissection is also done (unless the mastectomy is prophylactic). 

 

 

In most cases, the breasts are immediately reconstructed during a skin-sparing mastectomy, with either tissue expanders, breast implants, or tissue flaps

Frequently Asked Questions

  • An ideal candidate includes women with small breasts, absence of ptosis, low BMI and not actively smoking.

  • Most people can have skin-sparing mastectomies, but it’s not recommended if you aren’t having immediate breast reconstruction, as the remaining skin may fold and contract.

  • It's also not recommended if you have tumor cells that are close to your skin or if the cancer involves your skin. If you have inflammatory breast cancer, for example, you are not a good candidate for a skin-sparing mastectomy.

A mastectomy without immediate breast reconstruction can take 1-3 hours. If immediate breast reconstruction is performed during the mastectomy, the surgery will take longer (about 3 to 4 hours for reconstruction with tissue expanders or breast implants and 6 to 8 hours for reconstruction with tissue flaps). 

During the mastectomy, the surgeon separates the breast tissue from the skin and muscle. All of the breast tissue that the surgeon can see — which lies between the collarbone and ribs, from the side of the body to the breastbone in the centre — is removed. Depending on the type of mastectomy you are having, your surgeon may remove other parts of the breast.

You will have drains in each operated breast and stay overnight in the hospital. Most patients complain of chest tightness after this surgery. You will be prescribed muscle relaxants that will help with the tightness.

  • Taking pain medication

  • Caring for the bandage (dressing) over your incision, surgical drain and stitches.

  • Recognizing signs of infection-fever, increased redness around the incision, and pus draining from the incision.

  • Exercising your arm ( In case SLNB or ALND was performed)

  • Recognizing signs of lymphedema  ( In case SLNB or ALND was performed)

  • You can wear a breast prosthesis or bra after the wound heals.

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