What Is Oncoplastic Breast Surgery?
Oncoplastic breast surgery is a procedure that combines cancer removal and plastic surgery techniques to treat cancer while maintaining (or enhancing) the appearance of the breasts. Oncoplastic breast reconstruction is commonly performed at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery in combination with lumpectomy (cancer removal surgery) to restore the shape and appearance of the breast to minimize the patient's recovery period, as well as the emotional impact of breast loss. If you are concerned about an unusual or unidentified mass in your breasts, we invite you to learn more about our approach to breast reconstruction and oncoplastic breast surgery by scheduling an appointment at our Chicago, IL practice.
How Is Oncoplastic Reconstruction Performed?
We might use many different techniques for your oncoplastic reconstruction procedure. The specific approach we take will depend on the size of the tumor, its location, your overall health, and the natural size and shape of your breasts. Our primary aim during this surgery is to completely excise any cancerous tissues while maintaining as much healthy tissue as possible to reshape the breast. Depending on your needs and goals, we might perform breast reduction or augmentation to create the most natural shape for your body. Following your consultation and exam at our Chicago, IL office, we'll build a personalized oncoplastic reconstruction plan and discuss more about what you can expect during your surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery?
Facing breast cancer can be overwhelming, but advanced surgical techniques can help you feel whole again. Oncoplastic breast reconstruction at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery provides numerous benefits to help patients regain their sense of normalcy and confidence:
- Helps maintain symmetry between breasts
- Aims to preserve as much natural tissue as possible for a natural look and feel
- Rebuilds comfort and confidence following tumor removal
- Streamlines care by combining procedures for quicker recovery
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Reviews
I used Dr. Schierle (along with his incredible PA Monika) for my DIEP Flap Reconstruction after my breast cancer diagnosis. I interviewed multiple plastic surgeons but opted to go with him not only for his skilled background, but his ability to be upfront and realistic with me, while simultaneously compassionate. Hopefully I`ll never need him again for oncology reconstruction needs, but I would definitely use him for any elective future plastic surgery and recommend him to anyone who is looking for a very skilled plastic surgeon!
Very skilled plastic surgeon, highly recommend - I used Dr. Schierle (along with his incredible PA Monika) for my DIEP Flap Reconstruction after my breast cancer diagnosis. I interviewed multiple plastic surgeons but opted to go with him not only for his skilled background, but his ability to be upfront and realistic with me, while simultaneously compassionate. Hopefully I'll never need him again for oncology reconstruction needs, but I would definitely use him for any elective future plastic surgery and recommend him to anyone who is looking for a very skilled plastic surgeon!
I visited Dr Fine and his team after a failed breast reconstruction after being treated for cancer with mastectomy, chemo and radiation. From the first visit, there were noticeable differences between my prior surgeon and him. He and his team are empathetic and make their patients feel at ease and cared for. At each visit, he and his team have spent a lot of time with me. The visits never feel rushed. At my first visit, he looked at my infected reconstructed breast with an exposed implant and calmly explained what was necessary to fix it. He then explained the procedure he thought would be helpful and showed me before and after pictures of patients who had undergone the suggested surgery. The end result was gorgeous, by the way, in all of these pictures---even in post radiation patients. In this visit alone, he spent more time with me than my prior surgeon had spent with me over multiple visits. He answered all my very detailed questions. In my first visit with my prior surgeon, before my mastectomy, my husband and I were left alone in an exam room for about an hour with a saline-filled implant and silicone-filled implant on the counter to look at. The surgeon I went to before spent about 20 minutes with me in that visit and did not show me any before or after pictures. The choices presented to me were implant reconstruction with saline- or silicone-filled implants or an abdominal flap procedure that takes 2-4 months to recover from. I am very career-oriented and don't have 2 months to take off of work. Dr Fine, on the other hand, gave me the option of a latissimus doors flap with a significantly shorter recovery time, lower complication rate, and better aesthetic result. He gives you his honest opinion based on 30 years of experience. He tells you the hard truths: such as that 50% of implant reconstructions fail after radiation therapy. I wish I would have known that before I started on this journey because I would have made very different choices. The icing on the cake was when he took out the infected implant in his office, which makes a woman feel really terrible and ugly and scared, and his very kind PA told me I have beautiful eyes. Wow. What a caring team.
I visited Dr Fine and his team after a failed breast reconstruction after being treated for cancer with mastectomy, chemo and radiation. From the first visit, there were noticeable differences between my prior surgeon and him. He and his team are empathetic and make their patients feel at ease and cared for. At each visit, he and his team have spent a lot of time with me. The visits never feel rushed. At my first visit, he looked at my infected reconstructed breast with an exposed implant and calmly explained what was necessary to fix it. He then explained the procedure he thought would be helpful and showed me before and after pictures of patients who had undergone the suggested surgery. The end result was gorgeous, by the way, in all of these pictures---even in post radiation patients. In this visit alone, he spent more time with me than my prior surgeon had spent with me over multiple visits. He answered all my very detailed questions. In my first visit with my prior surgeon, before my mastectomy, my husband and I were left alone in an exam room for about an hour with a saline-filled implant and silicone-filled implant on the counter to look at. The surgeon I went to before spent about 20 minutes with me in that visit and did not go into detail. The choices presented to me were implant reconstruction with saline- or silicone-filled implants or an abdominal flap procedure that takes 2-4 months to recover from. I am very career-oriented and don't have 2 months to take off of work. Dr Fine, on the other hand, gave me the option of a latissimus dorsi flap with a significantly shorter recovery time, lower complication rate, and better aesthetic result. He gives you his honest opinion based on 30 years of experience. He tells you the hard truths: such as that 50% of implant reconstructions fail after radiation therapy. I wish I would have known that before I started on this journey because I would have made very different choices. The icing on the cake was when he took out the infected implant in his office, which makes a woman feel really terrible and ugly and scared, and his very kind PA told me I have beautiful eyes. Wow. What a caring team.
4
Total Reviews
5
Average Rating
Preserve Your Natural Curves
Oncoplastic breast surgery offers a unique approach by integrating cancer treatment with aesthetic care, helping you retain a sense of normalcy and confidence. By carefully reshaping the breast after tumor removal, this technique aims to preserve your natural silhouette and provide a balanced look. With a focus on individualized care, our team at Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery is here to support you through every step of your journey. Schedule an appointment at our plastic surgery office in Chicago, IL to find the best path forward for your recovery.