Who is a Candidate for Nipple Sparing Mastectomy?

Oncologists and breast reconstruction plastic surgeons like Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig of Houston Fusi & Craig Plastic Surgery are always looking for the latest innovations to provide mastectomy patients with the best aesthetic results, without sacrificing safety. The newest procedure to provide these types of results is called nipple sparring – a mastectomy procedure in which the entire breast skin envelope, including the nipple, is preserved, and only the underlying breast tissue is removed, then rebuilt via a breast reconstruction. Many Houston mastectomy patients like the idea of a nipple sparing mastectomy because it leaves much less scarring on the breast than a traditional mastectomy.

How is a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Performed?

A nipple sparing mastectomy is performed differently from a traditional mastectomy. With a nipple sparring mastectomy, a small incision is made in fold underneath the breast just as you would do in a breast augmentation procedure.   There are other incisions for NSM such as radial and periareolar incisions, however this will depend on your breast surgeon’s preference. Through the incisionour mastectomy surgeon will carefully remove the underlying breast tissue through the incision. The result is that most of your breast skin, including your nipple, remains intact. The breast skin then serves as a natural envelope or pocket, to be filled either with a Houston woman’s own tissue or a breast implant/expander through breast reconstruction.

Is Nipple Sparing Right for Me?

Given the aesthetic benefits of a nipple sparing mastectomy, it’s easy to understand why most Houston women would prefer this type of procedure. However, nipple sparing is a special surgical technique that is only appropriate for certain breast cancer patients. You might be a candidate for a nipple sparing mastectomy if:

• You are planning on having immediate breast reconstruction, meaning that you will have one surgery in which both the mastectomy and breast reconstruction are performed;
• Your cancerous cells are relatively small;
• Your cancerous cells are located several centimeters away from the nipple;
• You have small or medium sized breasts;
• You do not have large or sagging breasts, as it can be difficult to reposition the nipple on breasts with these characteristics; and
• You are having a mastectomy to remove existing cancer, and not having a mastectomy due to preventative reasons.

How Do I Know if I am a Candidate for a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy?

Determining whether or not you are a candidate for a nipple sparing mastectomy requires consultation and coordination between your Houston breast reconstruction surgeon, oncologist and the surgeon who will be performing your mastectomy. If you are interested in a nipple sparing mastectomy, you should let all of your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, so that the consultations and coordination of care may be arranged.

What Else Should I Know About a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy?

Breast reconstruction after a nipple sparing mastectomy is a relatively new procedure, and not all plastic surgeons are experienced with the techniques needed to perform it properly. If you are in the Houston area, though, you can rest assured that Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig of Fusi & Craig Plastic Surgery are skilled in nipple sparing breast reconstruction, and can perform this procedure to give you the best possible aesthetic results.

If you are looking for a plastic surgeon to perform your nipple sparing breast reconstruction, then call Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig for a surgical consultation at (713) 346-9909.