436 North Bedford Drive Ste 103,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 278-8200
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
The foundation of successful reconstruction—if that’s your choice—is the right mastectomy. As leaders in mastectomy and reconstruction, we empower women from across the country with options that promise clinical excellence and the most favorable aesthetic outcomes. Partnering with the world-class breast cancer surgeons at Bedford Breast Center, we guide you through these choices with empathy and expertise.
In the field of breast cancer surgery, Dr. Leslie Memsic and Dr. Heather Richardson stand out for their unsurpassed expertise and exemplary care. Their innovative approaches have transformed recovery experiences for countless women.
Below, we explore a variety of mastectomy techniques, each presenting unique considerations and benefits. From the innovative Goldilocks mastectomy to the prophylactic mastectomy, these methods reflect the advancements in surgical options designed to meet diverse patient needs and preferences.
The Goldilocks mastectomy conserves healthy skin and fatty tissue to sculpt a natural-looking breast mound, eliminating the need for implants. This procedure is ideal for those preferring an alternative to traditional breast reconstruction, breast implants, or the option of going flat post-surgery.
The development of the Goldilocks technique stems from a desire to avoid traditional reconstruction while still preserving some breast form. By adapting principles from breast reduction surgery for mastectomy purposes, the Goldilocks mastectomy conserves healthy tissues to create a smaller breast, simplifying the recovery process and minimizing or eliminating the need for additional surgeries.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Building upon the Goldilocks mastectomy, the SWIM mastectomy represents a further innovation in breast cancer surgery. This advanced technique not only preserves healthy skin and fatty tissue to reconstruct a smaller, natural-looking breast without implants, but it also spares the nipple/areola complex.
If your cancer is non-invasive or if there is a safe margin between the cancer and your skin, the skin-sparing mastectomy offers both safety and aesthetic advantages. This method removes the nipple and areola, then removes breast tissue through the resulting opening, thus preserving the breast skin.
Our surgical team stands out for their individual excellence and collective commitment to delivering patient-focused treatment. Together, they provide a synergy of expertise that translates into unsurpassed care and exceptional patient outcomes.
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The nipple/areola-sparing mastectomy accesses the breast tissue via the crease underneath the breast, maintaining the integrity of the nipple and areola. Most women are candidates for nipple-sparing mastectomy, except when the nipple is involved with the tumor. Factors such as nipple position or large breast size may also contraindicate the procedure.
Evidence supports that preserving the nipple and areola does not impact the breast cancer cure rate. This approach reduces the risk of complications, reduces costs, and minimizes postoperative pain. Still, relatively few breast centers offer this option due to the technical difficulty of the surgery.
Learn more about skin-sparing mastectomy with conservation of the nipple-areola complex and autologous reconstruction in this study on the National Institute for Health (NIH) website.
I was diagnosed with IDC in Feb of this year and a friend referred me to her and I feel so blessed she did. There aren’t many options in the mastectomy world and Dr. Cassileth’s SWIM technique was a game changer for me.
-Melissa
Prophylactic mastectomy is about cancer prevention. By electing to remove breast tissue before cancer develops, patients take a decisive step toward securing their future health. This option is particularly relevant for women who carry certain genetic markers or have a pronounced family history of breast cancer, placing them in a higher risk category.
Understanding your risk factors is crucial in deciding whether this surgery is suitable for you. If you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancers, previously battled cancer in one breast, have dense breast tissue, or were exposed to radiation therapy at a young age, you may be a candidate for this procedure.
Additionally, the presence of mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene elevates your risk. Your healthcare provider can work with you to determine if genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is appropriate.
Prophylactic mastectomy substantially lowers breast cancer risk, offering up to a 90% reduction for those at very high risk. However, while significantly reducing risk, risk, prophylactic mastectomy does not entirely eliminate the chance of developing breast cancer.
To ensure access to all your available options, including one-stage mastectomy and reconstruction, we urge you to discuss reconstruction early in your treatment planning with both your cancer team and your plastic surgeon.
To learn more about your mastectomy and reconstruction options, call us at (310) 278-8200 or contact us using the online form to schedule an appointment.
