Most women facing breast cancer surgery worry about two things: removing the cancer completely and what their body will look like afterwards. Oncoplastic breast surgery addresses both in a single procedure. It combines the precision of cancer surgery with the techniques of plastic surgery so that tumour removal and breast reshaping happen together rather than in separate operations. For many patients, it changes not just the outcome but the entire experience of treatment.
According to Dr. Garvit Chitkara, a leading Breast Cancer Surgeon in Mumbai,
“Oncoplastic surgery is not about cosmetics as an afterthought. It is about planning the cancer removal and the reconstruction together from the start, so the patient ends up with clear margins and a breast that looks and feels as natural as possible. That integrated approach is what makes the outcome different.”
What does oncoplastic breast surgery involve?
Oncoplastic surgery is not a single fixed procedure. It is an approach that combines oncological and plastic surgical principles, applied differently based on each patient’s tumour and anatomy:
- Volume displacement techniques: Used when enough breast tissue remains after tumour removal to reshape the breast using the patient’s own tissue. The surgeon reshapes the remaining breast rather than filling the gap with an implant.
- Volume replacement techniques: Used when the amount of tissue removed would leave a significant defect. Tissue from another part of the body, such as the back or abdomen, is used to restore breast volume and shape.
- Symmetry procedures: In many cases, a procedure on the opposite breast is performed at the same time to achieve balanced symmetry between both sides.
- Margin assessment during surgery: One of the core principles of oncoplastic surgery is intraoperative margin checking, reducing the need for a second surgery to achieve clear margins.
The right technique depends on tumour size, location, breast size, and the patient’s goals. To understand the full scope of what is offered, the oncoplastic surgery service page covers each approach in detail.
Considering breast cancer surgery?
Who is oncoplastic breast surgery suitable for?
Not every patient needs oncoplastic surgery, but it is particularly valuable in specific situations:
- Larger tumours relative to breast size: When removing a significant portion of breast tissue would leave a noticeable deformity, oncoplastic techniques preserve appearance without compromising cancer clearance.
- Centrally located tumours: Tumours near the nipple or in the central breast are technically difficult to remove while preserving shape. Oncoplastic planning addresses this directly.
- Patients who want to avoid mastectomy: For women who are eligible for breast conservation but concerned about cosmetic outcome, oncoplastic surgery often makes conservation viable where standard lumpectomy would not achieve an acceptable result.
- Those requiring symmetry correction: Women who have already had breast surgery on one side and need the other breast adjusted to match benefit significantly from this combined approach.
Understanding how oncoplastic surgery compares to standard breast conservation is important for any patient weighing their options. The evidence behind conservation surgery is a useful reference point for that decision.
Why Choose Dr Garvit Chitkara
Dr. Garvit Chitkara is Associate Director of Breast Surgical Oncology and Oncoplasty at Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care, Mumbai, with over 17 years of experience in breast surgical oncology. Oncoplastic surgery is his primary specialty interest, and he has trained extensively in this discipline at Tata Memorial Hospital and through a clinical observership at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Patients receive a surgical plan that is designed from the outset to achieve both oncologic clearance and the best possible aesthetic outcome.
FAQ
Is oncoplastic breast surgery the same as breast reconstruction?
Not exactly. Oncoplastic surgery reshapes the breast at the time of cancer removal. Reconstruction typically refers to rebuilding the breast after mastectomy, though both approaches share similar plastic surgical principles.
Does oncoplastic surgery affect cancer outcomes?
No. Studies consistently show that oncoplastic surgery achieves equivalent cancer control to standard breast conservation surgery while delivering better cosmetic results.
How long does oncoplastic breast surgery take?
Procedure time varies based on technique, but most oncoplastic surgeries take between two and four hours, with any symmetry procedure on the opposite side adding additional time.
Will I need radiation after oncoplastic breast surgery?
In most cases, yes. As with standard breast conservation surgery, radiation therapy is usually recommended after oncoplastic surgery to reduce the risk of local recurrence.
