The Chennai Breast Centre Hospital
The inpatient facility at Chennai Breast Centre is NABH accredited (entry level) and it is purposefully built for breast surgery with on-site facilities for imaging and pathology (frozen section). This ensures that special procedures like wire localised excisions and frozen section assessment of sentinel nodes and margins are very quick and reliable.
Patients are prepared well before surgery with all tests, pre-anaesthetic assessment and informed consent obtained in the clinic. Patients are usually admitted on the day of surgery, but sometimes for outstation patients, they may be admitted on the previous day. Most procedures are done as day care porcedures.
Breast Conservation
We strive to preserve the breast whenever feasible. Sometimes we recommend oncoplastic procedures based on the tumour and breast type and general health to achieve the best cosmetic outcomes. The long-term outcomes are comparable with mastectomy in terms of survival.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Axillary Clearance
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Axillary Clearance
Nodal assessment/ clearance is important not only for cancer control and treatment related decisions but also for prognostication. Prior to surgery, nodal assessment is done by imaging and if necessary, image guided node biopsy. Whenever applicable sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed. Sentinel lymph node biopsy avoids unnecessary axillary clearance, thereby avoiding the life-long risk of arm swelling called lymphedema.
Breast Reconstruction
Breast Reconstruction
Whole breast reconstruction is performed Dr.Venkat Ramakrishnan, specialist in Breast Plastic Surgery either immediately along with mastectomy or as a delayed procedure. Whole breast reconstruction gives the best possible cosmetic outcomes which improves the quality of life and self-confidence. It does not increase the risk of cancer recurrence.
Facts at a glance
Facts at a glance
The facts at a glance of the various procedures are given below. Please note that these are general information subject to change based on specific health conditions and procedures.
| Details | Mastectomy | Breast Preservation Surgery | Oncoplastic Surgery | Whole Breast Reconstruction (DIEP flap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgery Time | 1 to 1.5 hours | 1 to 1.5 hours | 1.5 to 2 or 3 hours depending on procedure | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Antibiotics | Not Routinely | Not Routinely | Not Routinely | Yes, for 5 days |
| Hospital Stay | Day care or one day | Day care or one day | Day care or one day | 5 days |
| Complete Recovery | 2 - 3 weeks | 2 - 3 weeks | 2 - 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Anaesthesia | General anaesthesia | General anaesthesia | General anaesthesia | General anaesthesia |
| Up and Walking / Ambulation | Same day | Same day | Same day | In 2 - 3 days |
| Fasting Prior to Surgery | 6 - 8 hours prior to surgery | 6 - 8 hours prior to surgery | 6 - 8 hours prior to surgery | 6 - 8 hours prior to surgery |
| Diet / Food After Surgery | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| Blood Transfusion | No, (If haemoglobin is low blood transfusion may be needed) | No, (If haemoglobin is low blood transfusion may be needed) | No, (If haemoglobin is low blood transfusion may be needed) | No, (If haemoglobin is low blood transfusion may be needed) |
| Drain | Yes, Generally removed in 2 weeks | No | Sometimes | Yes, Generally removed within a weeks |
| Pain Killer | Yes, for 10 days | Yes, for 10 days | Yes, for 10 days | Yes, for 10 days |
| Time off Work | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Bras | Mastectomy bra with prosthesis | Sports bra / regular bra | Sports bra / regular bra | Sports bra for 3 months after that regular bra |
