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Scraping Breast Tissue Before Augmentation Normal?

asked 1 year ago by pfsvp in Seattle
Latest answer by Robert Brueck, MD
Question viewed 319 times
Tags: breast cancer, normal, tissue

A woman on a plastic surgery message board that I frequent said that her surgeon scraped her natural breast tissue before inserting her implants to decrease her risk of developing breast cancer in the future. I'd never heard of such a thing, is this practiced common?

13 answers to Scraping Breast Tissue Before Augmentation Normal?

+2

Removing of breast tissue,subcutaneous mastectomy

Subcutaneous mastectomy, or removal of breast tissue is not done that often now to prevent breast cancer in the future for clinical studies showed that this did not significantly reduce the incidence of breast cancer. Unfortunately, it did cause a lot of problems with healig and distortion of the breasts, especially if most breast tissue was removed. However, if there is a very strong chance of breast cancer, then this may still be an option. Breast implants can then be placed or other... more
Edward J. Domanskis, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fibrocystic disease

I have had two patients who have previously had subcutaneous mastectomies (possibly misinterpreted as "scraping")  for fibrocystic breast disease and had implants placed.  Not performed any longer as far as I know.  It is certainly odd to be told this by any plastic surgeon.
Nirav Savalia, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

Augmentation and additional procedures

Interesting question.  I am not aware of this technique.  There are no additional maneuvers such as scraping the breast that may prevent the incidence of future breast cancer.  Statistically, one in nine women will be confronted with breast cancer.  Family history is an important contributor to one's risk of future cancer.  Other modifiable risk factors include smoking, obesity, radiation exposure, and others.  Hormone useage such as hormone replacement... more
Jason R. Hess, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scraping breast tissue

I have never heard of this.i wonder if the doctor is doing a breast biopsy to bill the insurance for the "procedure."
Robert Brueck, MD

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Scraping" breast tissue not common.

There is no procedure that I'm familiar with which involves scraping of a breast to reduce cancer risk. Most likely this was a misinterpretation of what this women had done (not uncommon at all!).
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scraping Breast Tissue Before Augmentation Normal?

NO! Never have heard of this "technique" in order to prevent breast cancer . Best if you can find thae surgeon who does this and speak personally to him/her. From MIAMI , please let us know if you find out something. 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Never heard of "scraping" breast tissue

 I don't know what this technique could be.  There is no surgical way to decrease the risk of breast cancer when placing implants for breast augmentation.
Bivik Rajnikant Shah, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scraping before Breast Implants

Hi pfsvp, I have never heard of this...and have not seen in on message-boards, articles, or any other medium. Most likely, this is a version of the game of "telephone," where one person says something and passes it around the circle. By the time it gets to the first person again, it's been completely mangled. In this case, it may refer to removing existing scar tissue (capsular contracture) in an attempt to improve the result. What it actually comes from,... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scraping breast tissue is not a step in breast augmentation

Hard to say what you heard on the message board, though there is no such thing as scraping breast tissue to reduce breast cancer risk in those who have breast implants. Some women have a high breast cancer risk by family and genetic history, and for those individuals mastectomy, sometimes sparing the nipple, does reduce breast cancer risk. The breast tissue is replaced with an implant. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

+1

Internet Message Boards and Plastic Surgery Misinformation

Thank you for your question. The importance of your specific topic is that so much of what is said on message boards and surgical forums are patients with limited information repeating what they hear as absolute truth.  This helps to muddy the waters for many prospective patients thinking what they hear in these arenas is the latest and greatest surgical procedure or cure. The Internet is filled with immense volumes of information and is a very useful tool, but there is significant... more
Vincent P. Marin, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.marinaesthetics.com

+1

Scraping breast tissue

I am sure that your  interpretation of what was written on the other message board was a mistake or maybe there was a typo.  Scraping the breast tissue before placing an implant wil lnot have any impact on whether a patient develops breast cancer or not.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Scraping" breast tissue before augmentation will not reduce cancer risks.

This is either a misunderstanding by the patient as to what she was told her surgeon did (after all, she was asleep), or her inaccurately restating what was described to her. "Scraping" is not a surgical step in breast augmentation. If it was, it would only cause bleeding, higher risk of capsular contracture, or potentially expose more intraductal bacteria to the implant--all bad! Furthermore, there is NO step that we surgeons can take that reduces the risk of breast cancer... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Augmentation, Breast Enlargement, Breast Implants

The only surgical option to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer would be to remove the breast (mastectomy).  This is not a common option for women today.  On the other hand if a patient has a very strong family history of breast cancer and her risks are high, then this type of surgery where her breast tissue is removed is a possibility.  Immediate insertion of an implant is done as a reconstructive augmentation.  This information is for general information... more
Jay H. Ross, MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

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