After being diagnosed, you have breast cancer, which brings a whole new set of worries. Now you’re depressed and stressed: the quality of life, self-confidence, the ability to keep your body whole, and your long-term mental health. People with this problem have a variety of surgical choices. Following the discovery of breast cancer, your surgeon determines which treatment is appropriate based on the stage and location of the tumors.
All women diagnosed with breast cancer in Singapore must get updated information about all surgical options, according to clinical advice. This includes oncoplastic treatments in Singapore. Patients who do not subscribe to the standard approach to treating breast cancer have more choices. As the organization aids in its execution, your doctor will guide you with the greatest surgery knowledge.
Oncoplastic is formed by combining two key ways: oncology and plastic surgery. A lumpectomy and plastic surgery are combined in oncoplastic breast surgery. It involves removing cancerous tissue from the breast while still retaining the breast’s form and structure. Lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy, which helps lower the risk that cancer will return in the same breast. While the operation is rather easy, the benefits for patients are substantial. All thanks to the people who invented Oncoplastic breast surgery.
Oncoplastic surgery is done in conjunction with a lumpectomy, which is also known as breast-conserving surgery. Breast-conserving surgery is a breast surgical option that is less invasive than standard procedures. It involves removing the diseased tissue while leaving the healthy breast tissue as intact as possible. Oncoplastic surgery is performed after a lumpectomy when a large amount of tissue is removed compared to the size of the breast. The surgeon uses tissue within the breast or from another area of the body to replace some of the tissue that was removed and to reshape the breast.
How Oncoplastic Surgery Works
First, the breast surgeon will remove malignant tissue by performing a lumpectomy. In most cases, mastectomy may be required for later-stage breast cancer. Then a plastic surgeon will work on breast restoration. The surgery works by first removing any malignant tissue, then shaping the normal breast tissue to fit. The goal of breast-conserving surgery is to remove cancerous tissue entirely while maintaining the rest of the breast. A lumpectomy removes the cancer and a rim of healthy tissue near the tumor, preserving the rest. If a re-excision is performed, that may be because the first surgery removed the cancer but the tissue’s edges do not look clear.
Oncoplastics surgery also involves the following:
- The first examination of breast margins: It involves evaluating the breast tissue edges after lumpectomy. It distinguishes between negative and positive margins. If the margin is negative, it means there are no cancer cells in the edges of the breast tissue around the cancer. If it is tested positive, it means cancer cells are found at the edge of the removed tissue, and another surgery may be needed to remove more tissue.
- Marking the lumpectomy location: Markings may be made in the cavity using tiny clips or surgery markers. The surgeon may place small metallic clips at the site where the cancer was removed. These devices help your doctor find cancer’s original position after the breast tissue has been altered and where radiation therapy should be directed.
- Shaping the other breast: The doctor can compare the other breast to the surgical breast so that both breasts have the same shape.
Most situations, oncoplastic surgery is performed concurrently with lumpectomy.
- Firstly: Oncoplastic surgery may work for women with various types of breasts.
- Secondly: It may not be appropriate for women with tiny breasts because there is not enough tissue to reshape
- Thirdly: Oncoplastic surgery is usually performed at the same time as a lumpectomy.
- Fourthly: These surgical operations may have a considerable impact on the breast.
- Finally: Oncoplastic surgery is a difficult treatment.
Benefits of Oncoplastic Surgery
There are a number of benefits to oncoplastic surgery.
- It is often done at the same time as the lumpectomy.
- Allows for the removal of a bigger amount of tissue.
- It makes it easy to create symmetrical breasts.
Techniques Used in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Breast surgeons can perform several different oncoplastic reconstruction techniques after a lumpectomy. The type used depends on the location and amount of tissue removed, along with the breast’s shape and size. Here are the general methods:
- Advancement flap: a technique where breast tissue is flattened and then moved into the space left by the lumpectomy to restore the breast shape.
- Breast reduction: a technique where breast tissue is removed from both breasts to create a smaller, more balanced size.
- Breast lift: a technique to reshape the breast and correct changes in breast shape, such as drooping.
- Mastectomy: a technique where one technique is not appropriate; in some cases, a mastectomy is recommended, with or without reconstruction, in which the entire breast is removed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is oncoplastic surgery?
Oncoplastic surgery is a type of breast surgery that combines a lumpectomy with plastic surgery. It involves removing cancerous tissue from the breast while keeping the breast’s form and structure. Oncoplastic techniques may be used after a lumpectomy when a large amount of tissue is removed compared to the size of the breast. The surgeon uses tissue within the breast or from another area of the body to replace some of the tissue that was removed and to reshape the breast.
What are the benefits of oncoplastic surgery?
It is often done at the same time as the lumpectomy. It allows for the removal of a bigger amount of tissue and makes it easy to create symmetrical breasts.
Who is oncoplastic surgery suitable for?
Oncoplastic surgery may work for women with various types of breasts. It may not be appropriate for women with tiny breasts because there is not enough tissue to reshape. Lumpectomy may not be advised when the area of cancer is large compared with the size of the breast, when cancer is found in several areas of the breast, when radiation therapy cannot be given after surgery, or when the cancer is inflammatory breast cancer.
What are the different techniques for oncoplastic surgery?
Breast surgeons can perform several different oncoplastic reconstruction techniques after a lumpectomy. The type used depends on the location and amount of tissue removed, along with the breast’s shape and size. These include advancement flap, breast reduction, breast lift, and mastectomy with or without reconstruction.
What are margins in breast surgery?
A negative margin means there are no cancer cells in the edges of the breast tissue around the cancer. If margins are positive, another surgery may be needed to remove more tissue from the positive margin area.
Disclaimer: This is general information only and is not medical advice for any one person. Oncoplastic surgery is a major operation with risks. Talk to your doctor about your options and risks first.
Last Updated: 6 November 2026