Mastectomy Options for Breast Cancer Patients

A mastectomy is a surgery that breast cancer patients sometimes go through to remove the breast tissue to treat breast cancer. Women may opt to get one of the mastectomy options before they are diagnosed with breast cancer to prevent them from getting it.

Types of Mastectomy 

Many different types of mastectomy options are available when it comes to getting a mastectomy. At The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery, our experienced and caring plastic surgeons have various mastectomy options for you to learn about. Most likely, your cancer surgeon (also known as a general surgeon) will determine what type of mastectomy will be performed.

Skin-Sparing Mastectomy

During a skin-sparing mastectomy, the breast tissue is removed. This type of mastectomy allows us to leave the skin over the breast alone while it still may have to remove the areola and nipple. Many women opt to get breast reconstruction or nipple tattoos immediately following a skin-sparing mastectomy. We offer both nipple reconstruction and nipple tattoos as our final stages of the breast reconstruction process.

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

During a nipple-sparing mastectomy, the only part of the breast that is removed is the breast tissue. That is because the cancer cells are found in the milk ducts. It’s important to note that if you have a larger tumor or a tumor too close to the nipple, a nipple-sparing mastectomy isn’t the best fit for you.

Unilateral Mastectomy

During the unilateral mastectomy, only one breast is removed– the cancerous one. After the procedure, many women opt to get breast reconstruction done to match their other breast. Talk with one of our plastic surgeons at The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery to discuss more if you’re interested in breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

Bilateral Mastectomy

Another mastectomy option to consider is the bilateral mastectomy. During this procedure, both of the breasts are removed due to having cancer in both breasts or having a high risk of getting breast cancer in both breasts.

Prophylactic Mastectomy

This type of mastectomy allows women who are at high risk for breast cancer, whether that be because they have the gene mutations or they have a family history of breast cancer, to get their breasts removed to reduce their risk. If you are interested in finding out if you have breast cancer gene mutations, call us at The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery to get set up with a genetic counselor today to seek testing!

Schedule Your Post-Mastectomy Consultation Today!

If you are interested in breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, such as nipple-tattooing, tissue expanders, or breast implants, call The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery in Lone Tree, CO, at 303-706-1100 to discuss your many options! Our experienced and board-certified plastic surgeons offer their patients passionate care because they understand how overwhelming the breast cancer journey can be.