For women with extensive history of breast cancer in their family, a preventive mastectomy can be performed to eliminate the risk for cancer. Because the cancer does not exist at the time of surgery, the patient is allowed more time to plan and decide if the treatment is right for her.
With the advent of genetic testing, many women find that they are at significantly increased long-term risk of developing breast cancer. They're choosing to have mastectomies, in fact, before they're even diagnosed with breast cancer. This is called a prophylactic preventative mastectomy. They're generally done on both sides at the same time. One of the nice things about prophylactic mastectomies for the patient is that because they do not have cancer they're not under time pressure restraints to make the decisions, so we're allowed to approach the reconstruction as we want. We have the luxury of time to make decisions about how we want to form the reconstruction, and to do it in a slightly different way with lower risk to the patient than patients who actually have breast cancer. With the newer techniques available today, with the use of the newer tissue expanders and AlloDerm, it's possible to give women a very natural, long-term reconstruction without resulting in taking tissue from other areas of the body. No scars elsewhere on the body with relatively short operations. Many women who have prophylactic mastectomies are candidates for nipple septectomies. During traditional mastectomies, the nipple and areola are removed with the breast tissue. During nipple septectomies that tissue is left behind, which can provide a more natural look, both in terms of the shape of the breast because we haven't removed any additional skin and because a woman retains her natural nipple and areola.
If you are considering plastic surgery in Darien, CT, or anywhere around Fairfield County, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation with top plastic surgeon Dr. Passaretti.
722 Post Rd, Ste 201, Darien, CT 06820