Is Electro-Cautery common place in Breast Reduction Mammoplasty, and can it cause damage to Breast tissue?

Question

Is Electro-Cautery a common tool in Breast Reduction Mammoplasty? Can it cause damage to breast tissue such as; Burns, Skin & Fat necrosis, Scars in the Upper and Inner & Outer quadrants, or the Upper Poles of the Breast? Should a Surgeon get the patients consent prior to surgery, or discuss any possible risks from using Electro-Cautery?

Dennis Hurwitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Electrocautery is a very common tool in breast reduction surgery, as well as most surgeries. It does not cause any issues and does not need a separate consent.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

is standard and doesn't cause issues... but if it burns your skin away from the site of surgery, that is something you should talk to your surgeon about.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Yes, the use of electrocautery is common in breast reduction surgery and does not require specific consent forms or discussion. Its use is not something that I generally discuss with patients. Best wishes.

Gordon Lewis, MD · Answer

There is virtually no surgery that is performed without electrocautery. This is a routine part of surgery and with this, there would be a much higher rate of bleeding and complications.

Paul Buhrer, MD (retired) · Answer

The use of electrocautery is common practice in breast reduction surgery. We use it for the entire tissue removal portion of our cases. We do not nor have I heard of the use of a consent specifically for the utilization of electrocautery, similarly it's use is not discussed routinely with the patient preoperatively. Damage from electrocautery in breast reductions is mostly limited to inadvertent  burns to the skin.

Is Electro-Cautery common place in Breast Reduction Mammoplasty, and can it cause damage to Breast tissue?

Answers (6)