Surgery
Benign Lesion Removal
If a breast lump is confirmed as benign (not cancer) but is causing discomfort, continuing to grow, or causing any concern, your doctor may recommend its removal.
This minimally invasive technique uses ultrasound guidance. A vacuum-assisted probe is used to completely remove benign lesions (e.g., fibroadenomas). It leaves a small scar and serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
This is a surgical operation to completely remove a lump from the breast. The surgeon makes an incision in the breast to excise the lump along with a small margin of surrounding tissue.
For very small lesions that cannot be felt (e.g., tiny calcifications), a localising wire is placed into the breast under imaging guidance before surgery. The surgeon then uses this wire as a guide to accurately find and remove the target tissue.
Cancer Surgery
This is a breast-conserving surgery where only the tumour and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue are removed, preserving most of the breast. It is usually followed by radiotherapy and can be a treatment option for early-stage breast cancer.
For small tumours or calcifications that cannot be felt, a radiologist places a thin guide wire into the tumor using imaging guidance before surgery. The surgeon uses this wire to accurately locate and remove the targeted area during the operation.
This operation involves the removal of all the breast tissue, including the nipple and areola. It is recommended for larger tumours, multiple areas of cancer within the breast, or by patient choice. Breast reconstruction can be performed afterwards.
This is a subtype of mastectomy where all breast tissue is removed, but the breast skin, nipple, and areola are preserved. This offers better cosmetic foundation for reconstruction. This refers to the cancer removal stage only, reconstruction surgery is planned separately.
Axillary Lymph Node Surgery
If breast cancer spreads, it often travels first to lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla). This surgery involves removing and assessing these node(s) to determine the cancer's stage and help control the disease.
This is a key diagnostic procedure to determine if breast cancer has spread to the axillary lymph node. The surgeon finds and removes the first one or few lymph nodes (the "sentinel" nodes) that drain from the breast. If these are clear of cancer, it usually imply the absent of cancer involvement in the axilla, and more extensive lymph node surgery can often be avoided.
This surgery is performed when cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes. It involves removing groups of lymph nodes (usually Level I & II) from the axilla to control the disease.
This is a precise technique for patients with known lymph node involvement who have had preoperative chemotherapy. It combines a marker clip (placed before chemo) and a tracer to accurately find and remove the previously affected lymph nodes during surgery to assess treatment response.
This is a rapid intra-operative pathology test. Fresh tissue (e.g., a tumour margin or lymph node) is frozen, thinly sliced, stained, and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. The results will guide the surgeon's immediate decisions (e.g. if margins are adequate).
Breast reconstruction
The most common method, using a silicone or saline implant to form a new breast mound. It can be done immediately after mastectomy or in a delayed fashion, sometimes using a tissue expander first. It is a less complex operation with a shorter recovery than flap procedures.
This autologous reconstruction uses your own tissue (skin, fat, and part of the rectus abdominis muscle) from the lower tummy area. This tissue is tunnelled under the skin to the chest to create a new breast. It involves only your body's tissue, without an implant, and provides a body contouring effect. However, it involves abdominal scarring, can affect core muscle strength, and requires a longer operation and recovery period.
It uses only skin and fat from the abdomen, meticulously preserving the underlying abdominal muscles by connecting tiny blood vessels (perforators) to chest vessels under a microscope. This reduces abdominal weakness. However, the surgery will be longer, more complex, and with higher risks.
This uses the latissimus dorsi muscle from your back, along with its overlying skin and fat, which is moved to the chest. It is often used to provide cover for an implant or to cover an defect. However, when it is used alone, it may not provide enough volume, and it leaves a scar on the back.
A hybrid technique combining an LD flap from the back with an implant. The flap provides healthy, vascularised soft tissue coverage over the implant, which adds the necessary volume and shape. It combines the benefits of both flap and implant methods.
Island East
- Address:
- 11/F, HKSH Eastern Building,
3 Tung Wong Road, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
- Service hours:
-
Consultation by Appointment
- Tel.:
- (852) 2917 5850
- Email:
- [javascript protected email address]
- Fax:
- (852) 2892 7448
- WhatsApp:
-
(852) 2917 5850
(For non-emergency cases)