Breast Cancer Treatment Surgeon Knoxville, TN - Dr. Aaron Margulies  FACS
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Rss
Passionate. Committed. Your Captain.
  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Aaron G. Margulies
    • About Director of Clinical Genetics Services: Imelda G. Margulies MSN, FNP-BC
  • Schedule Appointment
    • Download and Print Patient Forms
      • Dr. Aaron Margulies
        • Breast Care Consultations
        • General Surgery Consultations
      • Imelda Margulies
        • Genetic Counseling and High Risk In Office Consultations
        • Genetic Counseling and High Risk Telehealth Consultations
  • Leave Review
    • Contact
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Portal
    • Cancer Risk Quiz
    • Dr. Margulies Explains Cancer
    • 5 Questions to ask the Radiologist About Breast Cancer Checklist
    • Hidden Scar Surgery
  • Patient Forms
    • Dr. Aaron Margulies
      • Breast Care Consultations
      • General Surgery Consultations
    • Imelda Margulies
      • Genetic Counseling and High Risk Genetic Counseling and High Risk In Office Consultations Consultations
      • Genetic Counseling and High Risk Telehealth Consultations
  • Cancer Risk Quiz
Search the site...
Home» Breast Cancer Diagnosis » How a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Can Improve Emotional Well-Being

How a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Can Improve Emotional Well-Being

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - November 9, 2015 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Knoxville Community
1

How a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Improves Emotional Well-BeingBetsy was happy with her body. She was fashionable is a summer dress. She was relaxed in a bathing suit. She was confident in her fall sweater. She was happy, until last week. She got the phone call. Yes, that phone call, the one where the radiologist calls and tells you that you have breast cancer. Betsy was afraid. She was scared.

Betsy met with her Breast Surgical Oncologist. Although her breast cancer was amenable to successful treatment, she was going to lose her breast; she will need a mastectomy. It sure stinks to get breast cancer. And it sure stinks to lose your breast.

But what if we could keep your breast looking the same? It would take the edge off of the pain of your loss, maybe.

Today, options exist so that you can keep the look of your breast and perhaps even improve upon its appearance.  The Nipple Sparing Mastectomy, or the Total Skin Sparing Mastectomy, is proving to be a safe oncologic procedure, meaning the risk of recurrence is the same as a Total Mastectomy. The basic idea is to leave the skin of the breast alone, while removing all of the breast tissue “inside” the skin of the breast. Studies have shown time and again that recurrence rates are the same, no matter what type of mastectomy that one has. The incision, which is rather long, is made on the bottom side of the breast so that the scar is not seen when you are standing up. You keep the outside of your nipple and most, if not all of your skin. While your breast is not there it will look like your breast is there. Your nipple will be there and it will look like a nipple. And then the plastic surgeon will place an implant to recreate your breast, giving you a lift so that your breasts will look natural and awesome!

Now, not all women are good candidates for a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy. What matters is where the nipple will end up after the reconstruction. You do not want your nipple too high and you do not want your nipple too low. So, large D or DD breasts may not be ideal candidates and a small A breast may not be an ideal candidate. Typically, B and C breasts are best for Nipple Sparing Mastectomies, but ultimately the Plastic Surgeon will need to make that determination.

If you are not a candidate for a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy, you can still have nipple reconstruction after a Total Mastectomy. In a previous blog, I discussed Vinnie in Maryland, a tattoo artist who has become the premiere artist of nipple tattooing. He quit his tattoo business and focus on recreating nipples for women with breast cancer. He missed his tattoo art and was ready to quit so he could return to his love of being a tattoo artist. But his sister called and said she had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Vinnie continued to tattoo nipples on women who have had their breast reconstructed.

Betsy was a great candidate for a Nipple Sparing Mastectomy. While she had the breast with cancer in it removed and reconstructed, she kept her opposite breast. Most importantly, she had fought breast cancer and won. And she had a set of breasts that again let her feel fashionable in a summer dress, relaxed in a bathing suit, and confident in her fall sweater. And although her two breasts were not a perfect match, Betsy was delighted with how they looked and how they made her feel.

Betsy was satisfied. She had beaten cancer. She felt whole.

  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
cancer recurrence, emotional recovery, total mastectomy, total skin saving mastectomy

Dr. Margulies practices sees patients in West Knoxville at Turkey Creek Medical Center, in Powell just off of Emory Road​ adjacent to North Knoxville Medical Center in Powell, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Newport Medical Center.

Dr. Margulies performs surgeries at Tennova’s Turkey Creek Medical Center and North Knoxville Medical Center, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, at Newport Medical Center and at Parkwest Medical Center.

Learn more about Dr. Margulies here.

Hidden Scar Provider

Click here to learn more about Hidden Scar Surgery.

Schedule an Appointment

If you need to request an appointment, please call (865) 692-1610 and ask for Dr. Aaron Margulies.

Connect with Me

  • (865) 692-1610
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Youtube

Patient Testimonials

Your patients are some of the luckiest people in the world. I am so thankful that God brought us together.
Leslie


“Thank you for your excellent care.”

Samuel
Thank you for the excellent care I received as a patient under your care. I appreciate the kindness, utmost consideration and prompt treatment. I would definitely spread the word to friends and family.
Jessica
Thanks so much for your help with my cancer, thank God I am well. You are a special person and may God bless you and your staff.
Mary

“Thank you for your speedy surgery and compassionate care. My family could finally exhale.”

Emily

Recent Articles

  • DCIS Treatment – What Are My Options?
  • What Is Actually Considered “Family History” Or “High Risk” Of Breast Cancer?
  • How Accurate Is Genetic Testing, And When Should You Consider It?
  • How Telemedicine Can Help With Breast Cancer Concerns During COVID-19 
  • What You Need To Know About Surgeries During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Search Articles

Topics

  • Breast Cancer Diagnosis
  • Breast Cancer Research
  • Breast Cancer Surgery
  • Breast Cancer Treatment
  • Cancer Survival
  • Genetic testing
  • Knoxville Community
  • Patient Stories

Resources

  • Abercrombie Radiology
  • American Board of Surgery
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American Society of Breast Surgeons
  • Breast 360
  • Breast Cancer Statistics
  • Breast Cancer Terms
  • Breast Connect
  • Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center
  • Mastery of Breast Surgery
  • Society of Surgical Oncology
(c) 2020 Dr. Aaron Margulies - Web Design by Baker Labs
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule Appointment
  • Leave Review
  • Patient Resources
  • Patient Forms
  • Cancer Risk Quiz
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.