Skin sparing mastectomy procedures under-utilized in the U.S.

Joel A. Aronowitz, M.D., founder of the Breast Preservation Foundation and Division Clinical Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, recently led a group in Washington, D.C., to educate legislators and healthcare policy staff about the under-utilization of skin sparing mastectomy procedures in the U.S.

Meetings were held with Congressional leaders from both parties, including Rep. Jane Harman, D-CA, and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-VA. Members of the delegation were invited to attend the State of the Union speech in recognition of the efforts of the Breast Preservation Foundation in the fight against breast cancer.

A skin-sparing mastectomy, also known as breast-conserving surgery, is a way to treat cancer and save the breast skin. In so doing it causes much less scarring than a traditional mastectomy. The skin-sparing procedure removes cancerous breast tissue through a small incision usually around the areola area of the nipple. The surgeon leaves most of the breast skin, creating a natural skin envelope, or pocket, that is filled with a breast implant or with the patient’s own tissue from another part of her body. The skin-sparing technique significantly improves the cosmetic outcome and gives the best option for reconstruction.