When you need surgery for the health of your breasts, you want the least invasive procedure possible to minimize trauma and preserve your breast shape and integrity. Kevin Lynch, DO, expert surgeon at Odessa General Surgery, uses minimally invasive surgery whenever possible to restore health to your breast. If you’ve found a lump or mass or have been recommended for breast surgery, contact the Odessa, Texas, office or use the online contact form.

Breast Surgery

Why do I need breast surgery?

When you notice a lump, bump, or other changes in your breast, your doctor may recommend breast surgery. 

Most of the time, breast problems and growths are benign, not cancerous. Some breast growths that may require surgery include:

  • Fibroadenomas — solid, round, rubbery benign masses that move when you touch them
  • Intraductal papillomas — small growths that look like warts that grow in lining of nipple duct
  • Traumatic fat necrosis — prior injury causes lumps of benign, hard, round fat 
  • Cancerous lumps — only about 20% of breast lumps are cancerous

Some benign lumps can get infected and cause pain. Others have no symptoms at all and may not require surgery if they don’t bother you.

If you notice a new or growing lump in your breast, see your doctor as soon as possible. You should also consult a doctor if your nipples leak fluid when you’re not pregnant.

What happens when I get breast surgery?

Depending on the type of surgery you need, most breast surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis. You can go home the same day, but you must arrange for somebody else to drive you, because you’ll be sleepy from the general anesthesia. 

Most breast surgeries only take about one hour. Dr. Lynch uses small incisions to remove only as much tissue as necessary. 

If your lump is cancerous, he removes the lump plus a good margin of tissue surrounding the lump to reduce the risk of leaving cancerous cells behind. A pathologist examines the tissue to ensure that Dr. Lynch created a “clear (i.e., cancer-free) margin.”

He may also need to remove some or all of the lymph nodes in your armpits if the cancer could have spread that far. He may leave metal clips inside your breast to direct radiation therapy after you heal.

Will my breasts look normal after breast surgery?

If you had a cancerous lump removed, Dr. Lynch’s main objective is to get all of the cancer cells. You may undergo breast reconstruction after you’ve finished chemotherapy, radiation, and other therapies you need and your oncologist has pronounced you cancer-free.

When Dr. Lynch removes noncancerous lumps and masses, he leaves as much healthy tissue intact as possible. You may elect for reconstructive surgery after you heal from your breast surgery.

When you need breast surgery, call Odessa General Surgery or contact the team with the online form.