Women who have a non-cancerous mass in their breast tissue may still feel concern about the mass and choose to have it surgically removed. Two surgical procedures that we currently offer include the following:

• Cryoablation of Fibroadenomas
• Prophylactic Mastectomy

Cryoablation of Fibroadenomas

Cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which a benign fibroadenoma is quick-frozen, while still in the body, and is not surgically removed. Fibroadenomas may also be surgically removed, but this may cause scarring or dimpling of the breast or damage to the breast’s duct system.

There is no incision but only a small puncture at the site, similar to a needle biopsy. You can return to normal activities the very next day. This procedure is performed by a surgeon. The total time needed for this procedure is one hour. No sedation is necessary. The procedure can be done in a clinical office and does not require the use of an operating room. The complication rate is low, and recovery is very quick. The procedure provides minimal scarring and excellent cosmetic result. The mass will not disappear right away, but will gradually disappear 3-6 months after the procedure

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Prophylactic Mastectomy

A prophylactic mastectomy is the surgical removal of a breast even though there is no cancer found in the breast. This procedure is most commonly requested by women who are at a very high risk for developing breast cancer and want to reduce their risk. There is still a small chance that breast cancer may develop in the breast tissue that remains.

During a prophylactic mastectomy, a surgeon makes a cut (incision) and removes almost all of the tissue of the breast. The muscle behind the breast tissue is not removed. Once the tissue is removed, the incision is closed. After a mastectomy, you will have a scar across your chest and that area will be flat.

Following a mastectomy, there are several options:

• You may choose to wear an artificial breast form (prosthesis) in a brea or attached to your skin.
  
• You may choose to have the breast reconstructed or rebuilt using artificial breast implants. This may be done at the time of the mastectomy or you can do it at a later time.

Women who may consider a prophylactic mastectomy are:

• Those who have breast cancer in one breast and a high risk of developing breast cancer in the unaffected breast over the course of her lifetime
  
• Those who have breast cancer in one breast and a substantial anxiety over developing a breast cancer in her unaffected breast
  
• Those who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, regardless of whether she has had breast cancer
  
• Those who have a substantial family history of breast cancer occurring at an early age
  
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