Breast Cancer

Breast Conditions to Treat

Our women's health teams include physicians specially trained in breast health and breast surgery. We offer regular screenings, diagnostic procedures and breast surgery using some of the most advanced technology and tissue-conserving techniques. Our breast health providers address common breast changes and conditions that may include:

• Benign Breast Disease
• Breast Cancer
• Cryoablation of Breast Tumors
• High Risk Surveillance
• Oncoplastic
• Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

When to See a Breast Surgeon

Women should conduct monthly breast self-exams and pay attention to changes in their breasts. Talk with your primary care physician or your OB/GYN about when you should start having an annual mammogram, a special X-ray of the breast that can show growths that are too small to feel with your fingers during self-exam. Contact your primary care physician or your OB/GYN if you notice changes such as:

• Lumps in the breast or underarm
• Dimpling
• Breast pain
• Redness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Anything that looks or feels different

Your primary care doctor or OB/GYN will refer you to a breast surgeon if a mammogram or other diagnostic test indicates you have a breast health issue. Surgery may range from a breast conserving procedure known as a lumpectomy to a mastectomy in which the entire breast is surgically removed.

Your breast surgeon will review your surgical options as well as the possibilities for breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is usually performed by a plastic surgeon who works with your breast surgeon.

What is Hidden Scar Breast Cancer Surgery

Our breast surgeons are expanding options for women in Palm Beach County and surrounding communities with a procedure that is designed to effectively treat cancer while optimizing cosmetic results. The Comprehensive Breast Center of the Palm Beaches is the first in South Florida to be named a Center of Excellence for Hidden Scar™ Breast Cancer Surgery, an advanced approach for nipple sparing mastectomies and lumpectomies.

Hidden Scar Breast Cancer Surgery is an advanced, minimally invasive approach in which breast surgeons remove cancerous tissue through a single incision made in an inconspicuous area with the goal of preserving the natural shape of the breast while reducing visible scarring. This approach is designed to help patients achieve optimal clinical and cosmetic outcomes.

The Hidden Scar approach may also ease the emotional impact of breast cancer surgery, as it hides scars, minimizing the daily reminder of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Am I a Candidate?

Hidden Scar Breast Cancer Surgery may be appropriate for certain breast cancer patients undergoing nipple sparing mastectomy or breast conserving (lumpectomy) procedures. Qualification depends on a patient’s tumor size and location, breast shape and size, so it is important to discuss all your options with your surgeon to find out if Hidden Scar Surgery is right for you.

Types of hidden scar surgery include:

• Hidden Scar Lumpectomy: In a Hidden Scar Lumpectomy, there are three different locations for a lumpectomy incision that may make the scar less visible:
• inframammary fold (the natural crease beneath the breast)
• along the areola border
• axilla (armpit)
• Hidden Scar Mastectomy: There is one incision location for a Hidden Scar Nipple Sparing Mastectomy that may make the scar less visible:
• inframammary fold (the natural crease beneath the breast)
• Additionally, this procedure may be considered for patients opting for a prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy because of a diagnosed BRCA gene mutation.

Innovative Nipple Sparing Goldilocks Mastectomy

Nipple Sparing Goldilocks Mastectomy (NSGM) i an advanced breast cancer surgery that provides a safe and effective alternative to traditional reconstruction methods, particularly for women with a higher BMI or those who prefer to avoid breast implants. 

NSGM is a single-stage breast reconstruction that preserves the nipple-areola complex (NAC) while removing cancerous tissue. Unlike traditional methods that require implants or complex reconstruction procedures, NSGM utilizes the patient’s own tissue to create a natural breast mound. This technique can result in simpler recovery, favorable cosmetic outcomes, and lower complication rates, making it an ideal choice for women with larger or ptotic (sagging) breasts, those with medical comorbidities, or those who simply prefer to avoid implants.

Why Choose the Nipple Sparing Goldilocks Mastectomy?

• Ideal for women with higher BMIs who face higher complication risks with traditional breast reconstruction.
• No implants required, making it a preferred choice for women seeking a natural alternative. Implants may be placed at the same time or at a later time if the patient wishes. 
• May reduce the need for radiation therapy in early-stage breast cancer patients undergoing cancer surgery.
• Lower complication rates compared to traditional nipple-sparing mastectomies with implants.
• Minimally invasive approach that reduces the need for additional surgeries.

A recent study analyzing NSGM outcomes showed high rates of nipple preservation, lower complication rates, and fewer reoperations than traditional reconstruction. Patients reported minimal post-operative pain, with an average pain score of just 0.8 out of 10.

For women facing a breast cancer diagnosis or considering risk-reducing mastectomy, NSGM offers a life-changing option with a more natural result, quicker recovery, and fewer long-term complications.