Mercy Hospital Dunedin - Breast Surgery

Simple or Total: all breast tissue, skin and the nipple are surgically removed but the muscles lying under the breast and the lymph nodes are left in place.

Modified Radical: all breast tissue, skin and the nipple as well as some lymph tissue are surgically removed.

Partial: the breast lump and a portion of other breast tissue (up to one quarter of the breast) as well as lymph tissue are surgically removed.

Lumpectomy: the breast lump and surrounding tissue, as well as some lymph tissue, are surgically removed. When combined with radiation treatment, this is known as breast-conserving surgery.

Open Excisional: a small incision (cut) is made as close as possible to the lump and the lump, together with a surrounding margin of tissue, is removed for examination. If the lump is large, only a portion of it may be removed.

Fine Needle Aspiration and Core Needle Biopsy: both these procedures involve inserting a needle through your skin into the breast lump and removing a sample of tissue for examination.

A silicone sack filled with either silicone gel or saline (salt water) is inserted underneath your chest muscle and skin. Before being inserted, the skin will sometimes need to be stretched to the required breast size. This is done by placing an empty bag where the implant will finally go, and gradually filling it with saline over weeks or months. The bag is then replaced by the implant in another operation.

Personalised advice and surgical treatment is available to adjust breast asymmetry or help with breast reduction or augmentation.

Male breast cancer is uncommon, however symptoms in males require assessment and sometimes treatment. Personalised advice and treatment (excision or liposuction) for gynaecomastia and asymmetry is also offered.