Breast Surgery
Experience personalized surgical care for your breast condition.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or have a noncancerous breast condition that requires surgery, you’ll find personalized compassionate breast surgical care at Novant Health. Our breast surgeons use the most up-to-date surgical technology, minimally invasive procedures, advanced breast conservation techniques, and reconstructive surgery to treat breast cancer and other breast conditions.
Getting back to what you value most
When you are seeking care for a new diagnosis of breast cancer, you want a team that understands your needs and offers personalized advanced treatment options designed to fit your treatment goals. The board-certified breast surgeons at Novant Health diagnose, treat, and manage breast cancer and noncancerous (benign) breast conditions, like breast lumps, pain, or nipple discharge.
You’ll have access to advanced surgical treatment within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment. Your surgeon will coordinate your care with your other providers to create a comprehensive personalized care plan for you.
What does a breast surgeon do?
A breast surgeon is trained in all areas of breast conditions and treatment. All our breast surgeons have specialized fellowship training for surgical oncology as well as benign breast conditions.
Novant Health also has a team of advanced practice providers (APPs) who have specialized training in breast conditions. When you come to Novant Health for breast surgery, you’ll have access to the latest surgical expertise in a compassionate environment.
As part of your breast cancer team, we will collaborate with many specialists dedicated to your treatment, including plastic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, integrative medicine providers, radiologists, and pathologists. We work together to provide you with leading-edge breast cancer care.
Our breast surgeons have advanced training in cancer risk assessment and genetics to help provide personalized breast cancer screening and monitoring plans for women at increased risk for breast cancer. The Novant Health Cancer Institute also provides genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancers.
Surgical Procedures for Breast Conditions
If surgery is part of your treatment plan, you will have access to top breast surgeons trained to use the most advanced procedures including:
- Axillary surgery techniques like targeted sentinel lymph node biopsy and mapping, and axillary reverse mapping
- Axillary lymph node dissection
- Flat aesthetic closure mastectomy
- Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
- Nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy
- Risk-reducing mastectomy
- Excisional breast biopsy using targeted localization techniques including the Scout procedure
- Hidden scar lumpectomy
- Oncoplastic lumpectomy
Nonsurgical Care
Our breast surgery team can also help you manage non-cancerous conditions of the breast such as:
- Benign breast masses
- Nipple discharge
- Breast infections including mastitis and breast abscess
- Breast pain
- Breast cancer risk assessment and interpretation of genetic testing results
Partners for Your Breast Cancer Surgery
If you are having reconstructive breast surgery at the same time as a mastectomy, you will want to select a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast cancer reconstruction.
A plastic surgeon can provide immediate breast reconstruction using implants or tissue from other parts of your body. Your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon will partner before, during, and after your surgery to provide the best possible outcome for you.
Life-Saving Breast Cancer Screenings
The survival rate for breast cancer is excellent when it's detected in the early stages. That's why regular screenings are crucial.
Starting at age 40, it is recommended that women have a screening mammogram every year. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your provider may recommend starting screening sooner. At the Novant Health Breast Imaging Centers, you have access to advanced breast cancer detection tools you need, close to home or work.
Nationally recognized surgical excellence
All Novant Health surgery centers, surgical clinics, and outpatient centers are accredited by The Joint Commission or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
The Novant Health Cancer Institute is recognized by American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditation and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer (NAPBC). We were one of the first in North Carolina to earn NAPBC national accreditation, whose standards include proficiency in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement.
Access breast surgeons who are board-certified and leading surgical programs with regional and national recognition.
Safer, Faster Recovery with ERAS
Our breast surgeons offer leading-edge outpatient mastectomy care that adheres to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care pathway.
Your entire care team follows scientific-based methods before, during, and after surgery to reduce your pain, reduce your recovery time, and enable you to go home faster. This includes nerve blocks performed during your surgical procedure which help minimize post-surgical pain to allow for discharge home the same day of surgery.