Introduction to
Breast and Lymphoedema Surgery:
Breast and lymphoedema surgery encompasses procedures aimed at treating breast cancer, reconstructive surgery, and managing lymphoedema—a condition characterized by swelling due to lymphatic system blockage. Breast surgery includes lumpectomies, mastectomies, and oncoplastic techniques to remove cancer while preserving appearance. Lymphoedema surgery involves techniques to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce swelling. These procedures help restore patients' health and well-being, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of breast cancer and lymphatic conditions.
Types of Surgeries
Treatment Available
Simple Mastectomy:
Surgical removal of the entire breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, without extracting lymph nodes, commonly undertaken for early-stage breast cancer or as a preventive measure for high-risk individuals.
Modified Radical Mastectomy:
Surgical removal of the entire breast tissue, nipple, areola, and some underarm lymph nodes (axillary lymph nodes), performed for more advanced breast cancer cases or when lymph node involvement is present.
Skin-Sparing Mastectomy:
Removal of breast tissue while preserving the breast skin envelope, allowing for immediate breast reconstruction with a natural appearance. It is often chosen for early-stage breast cancer or prophylactic mastectomy.
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy:
Removal of breast tissue while retaining the nipple and areola complex, facilitating immediate breast reconstruction with a more authentic look. This option is suitable for select patients with early-stage breast cancer or prophylactic mastectomy.
Breast Reconstruction with Implants:
Surgical restoration of the breast using silicone or saline implants placed beneath the chest muscle or breast tissue, recreating volume and shape similar to a natural breast.
Conditions
Breast cancer
High risk of developing breast cancer
Preventative measures for genetic predispositions
Treatment Available
Reduction Mammoplasty Surgery:
Surgical procedure designed to decrease breast size and reshape them by removing excess breast tissue, skin, and fat, aiming for a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing breast appearance.
Liposuction-Assisted Breast Reduction:
Minimally invasive surgical method utilizing liposuction to eliminate surplus fat from the breasts, particularly suitable for patients with good skin elasticity and minimal skin excess.
Vertical Scar Reduction Mammoplasty (Lollipop Lift):
Surgical technique involving vertical incisions to reshape the breasts and remove excess tissue, resulting in a scar around the areola and down the lower breast fold, commonly used for moderate to severe breast sagging.
Inverted-T Scar Reduction Mammoplasty (Anchor Lift):
Surgical approach combining vertical and horizontal incisions to reshape the breasts and remove excess tissue, resulting in scars around the areola, down the lower breast fold, and horizontally along the breast crease, often employed for significant breast sagging and excess skin.
Pedicle Reduction Mammoplasty:
Surgical method preserving a tissue pedicle (typically the inferior pedicle) to support the nipple and areola complex while reducing breast tissue and reshaping the breasts, commonly used for larger breasts and significant sagging.
Scarless Breast Reduction (Minimal Scar Techniques):
Innovative surgical techniques aiming to minimize visible scarring by using limited or concealed incisions, such as the circumareolar or periareolar technique, suitable for certain patients with mild to moderate sagging and tissue excess.
Conditions
Disproportionately large breasts
Chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain
Skin irritation beneath the breast crease
Restricted physical activity due to breast size
Treatment Available
Lymphovenous Bypass Surgery:
This surgical procedure aims to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce lymphedema by establishing connections between lymphatic vessels and nearby veins. It facilitates the smoother flow of excess lymph fluid, alleviating swelling.
Microsurgical Lymphovenous Bypass:
A specialized form of this surgery performed with microsurgical techniques, including operations under a microscope. These precise methods ensure accurate connections between lymphatic vessels and veins, boosting success rates while minimizing tissue damage.
Supermicrosurgical Lymphovenous Bypass:
An advanced variant using supermicrosurgical techniques, employing precise instruments and powerful microscopes. This approach creates delicate connections between lymphatic vessels and veins, especially effective for treating lymphedema in sensitive or challenging areas.
Endoscopic Lymphovenous Bypass:
A minimally invasive procedure employing an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and surgical tools. It visualizes and creates connections between lymphatic vessels and veins through small incisions, reducing scarring and promoting faster recovery.
Combined Treatment Approach:
This involves integrating lymphovenous bypass surgery with other therapies like lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), lymph node transfer, or compression therapy. This comprehensive strategy addresses various aspects of lymphedema management and optimizes treatment outcomes.
Conditions
Lymphoedema (swelling due to lymph fluid buildup)
Chronic swelling in arms or legs post-cancer treatment or surgery
Treatment Available
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND):
A surgical procedure that involves removing multiple lymph nodes from the armpit (axilla) to evaluate the spread of cancer in breast cancer patients or to manage regional lymph node involvement.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB):
A minimally invasive surgical method used to identify and remove the initial few lymph nodes that receive drainage from a tumor. It aids in determining if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes without the need for extensive lymph node dissection.
Extended Lymph Node Dissection:
Surgical extraction of additional lymph nodes beyond the standard axillary dissection, typically performed when cancer is suspected or confirmed to have spread beyond the sentinel lymph nodes.
Radiation Therapy:
Treatment involving external beam radiation directed at the axilla to target any residual cancer cells post-surgery, particularly in cases where lymph node involvement is detected or suspected but extensive lymph node dissection is not feasible.
Chemotherapy:
Systemic administration of cytotoxic drugs before or after surgery to shrink tumors, eradicate micrometastases, or prevent cancer recurrence. It is often combined with axillary lymph node dissection as part of comprehensive cancer management.
Conditions
Breast cancer metastasis to lymph nodes
Evaluation of cancer spread
Reduction of cancer recurrence risk
Treatment Available
Simple Mastectomy:
Surgical removal of the entire breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, without extracting lymph nodes, commonly undertaken for early-stage breast cancer or as a preventive measure for high-risk individuals.
Modified Radical Mastectomy:
Surgical removal of the entire breast tissue, nipple, areola, and some underarm lymph nodes (axillary lymph nodes), performed for more advanced breast cancer cases or when lymph node involvement is present.
Skin-Sparing Mastectomy:
Removal of breast tissue while preserving the breast skin envelope, allowing for immediate breast reconstruction with a natural appearance. It is often chosen for early-stage breast cancer or prophylactic mastectomy.
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy:
Removal of breast tissue while retaining the nipple and areola complex, facilitating immediate breast reconstruction with a more authentic look. This option is suitable for select patients with early-stage breast cancer or prophylactic mastectomy.
Breast Reconstruction with Implants:
Surgical restoration of the breast using silicone or saline implants placed beneath the chest muscle or breast tissue, recreating volume and shape similar to a natural breast.
Conditions
Breast cancer
High risk of developing breast cancer
Preventative measures for genetic predispositions
Treatment Available
Reduction Mammoplasty Surgery:
Surgical procedure designed to decrease breast size and reshape them by removing excess breast tissue, skin, and fat, aiming for a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing breast appearance.
Liposuction-Assisted Breast Reduction:
Minimally invasive surgical method utilizing liposuction to eliminate surplus fat from the breasts, particularly suitable for patients with good skin elasticity and minimal skin excess.
Vertical Scar Reduction Mammoplasty (Lollipop Lift):
Surgical technique involving vertical incisions to reshape the breasts and remove excess tissue, resulting in a scar around the areola and down the lower breast fold, commonly used for moderate to severe breast sagging.
Inverted-T Scar Reduction Mammoplasty (Anchor Lift):
Surgical approach combining vertical and horizontal incisions to reshape the breasts and remove excess tissue, resulting in scars around the areola, down the lower breast fold, and horizontally along the breast crease, often employed for significant breast sagging and excess skin.
Pedicle Reduction Mammoplasty:
Surgical method preserving a tissue pedicle (typically the inferior pedicle) to support the nipple and areola complex while reducing breast tissue and reshaping the breasts, commonly used for larger breasts and significant sagging.
Scarless Breast Reduction (Minimal Scar Techniques):
Innovative surgical techniques aiming to minimize visible scarring by using limited or concealed incisions, such as the circumareolar or periareolar technique, suitable for certain patients with mild to moderate sagging and tissue excess.
Conditions
Disproportionately large breasts
Chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain
Skin irritation beneath the breast crease
Restricted physical activity due to breast size
Treatment Available
Lymphovenous Bypass Surgery:
This surgical procedure aims to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce lymphedema by establishing connections between lymphatic vessels and nearby veins. It facilitates the smoother flow of excess lymph fluid, alleviating swelling.
Microsurgical Lymphovenous Bypass:
A specialized form of this surgery performed with microsurgical techniques, including operations under a microscope. These precise methods ensure accurate connections between lymphatic vessels and veins, boosting success rates while minimizing tissue damage.
Supermicrosurgical Lymphovenous Bypass:
An advanced variant using supermicrosurgical techniques, employing precise instruments and powerful microscopes. This approach creates delicate connections between lymphatic vessels and veins, especially effective for treating lymphedema in sensitive or challenging areas.
Endoscopic Lymphovenous Bypass:
A minimally invasive procedure employing an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and surgical tools. It visualizes and creates connections between lymphatic vessels and veins through small incisions, reducing scarring and promoting faster recovery.
Combined Treatment Approach:
This involves integrating lymphovenous bypass surgery with other therapies like lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), lymph node transfer, or compression therapy. This comprehensive strategy addresses various aspects of lymphedema management and optimizes treatment outcomes.
Conditions
Lymphoedema (swelling due to lymph fluid buildup)
Chronic swelling in arms or legs post-cancer treatment or surgery
Treatment Available
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND):
A surgical procedure that involves removing multiple lymph nodes from the armpit (axilla) to evaluate the spread of cancer in breast cancer patients or to manage regional lymph node involvement.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB):
A minimally invasive surgical method used to identify and remove the initial few lymph nodes that receive drainage from a tumor. It aids in determining if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes without the need for extensive lymph node dissection.
Extended Lymph Node Dissection:
Surgical extraction of additional lymph nodes beyond the standard axillary dissection, typically performed when cancer is suspected or confirmed to have spread beyond the sentinel lymph nodes.
Radiation Therapy:
Treatment involving external beam radiation directed at the axilla to target any residual cancer cells post-surgery, particularly in cases where lymph node involvement is detected or suspected but extensive lymph node dissection is not feasible.
Chemotherapy:
Systemic administration of cytotoxic drugs before or after surgery to shrink tumors, eradicate micrometastases, or prevent cancer recurrence. It is often combined with axillary lymph node dissection as part of comprehensive cancer management.
Conditions
Breast cancer metastasis to lymph nodes
Evaluation of cancer spread
Reduction of cancer recurrence risk
Happy Patients
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