Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

Oncoplastic breast surgery has been described as “seamless” specialist breast cancer surgery where removal of the cancer with breast conserving surgery is performed in conjunction with “plastic surgery” techniques to maintain or restore breast shape. This type of surgery is especially useful in cases where large volumes of breast tissue is removed to obtain tumour clearance. Dr Kollias has helped pioneer this surgery in Australia for the last 20 years. In this day and age, patients should anticipate excellent cosmetic outcomes from their breast cancer surgeries. Dr Kollias believes that poor cosmetic outcomes are unacceptable. 

Oncoplastic procedures include-

Therapeutic mammaplasty 

This surgery utilises standard or variations of breast reduction procedures to remove the breast cancer and reduce the size of the breast and skin envelope. This is especially useful in large breasted women with cancers situated in “difficult” positions such as beneath the nipple area or lower part of the breast. It also offers large-breasted women the opportunity who wish to have a breast reduction as part of their breast cancer surgery.

Volume replacement surgery

Some cancers are large or situated in “difficult” positions such that wide local excision or partial mastectomy will lead to a significant cosmetic deformity. In these circumstances, Dr Kollias may use “volume replacement” techniques to fill the defect with flaps derived from the patient’s nearby skin and fat (and occasionally muscle). Dr Kollias has been performing these “perforator flaps” (LICAP. AICAP, TDAP flaps) for volume replacement in breast cancer since 2013 with very few risks and excellent surgical outcomes.