I Had a Lumpectomy Five Weeks Ago and Just Noticed a Nipple Inversion on That Side. What Has Caused This?

It is not uncommon for the appearance of a woman's breast and or nipple to change after lumpectomy. Sometimes the breast tissue will "settle out" and the appearance will improve. Unfortunately, however, when nipple inversion is present, it is often because the removal of the diseased tissue created a void behind the nipple, and this is unlikely to improve over time. In fact, the degree of inversion may become even more pronounced after radiation therapy. A recent studies have shown that standard breast conserving procedures such as lumpectomy yield poor cosmetic results up to 30 percent of the time.

Your breast surgeon should be able to give you a good idea about what the eventual appearance of your nipple is likely to be. I would also suggest , if possible before you begin radiation, that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon (or two or three) who specialize in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery. Oncoplastic surgery may be ableto improve the final shape of the breast after breast-conserving surgery without compromising cancer care.

If you have undegone a lumpectomy for breast cancer, your breast surgeon has cored out tissue to remove your tumor with a healthy margin of noncancerous tissue.  It is not uncommon for patients to see deformities  manifest over time.  Also, you will require radiation therapy to complete your breast conservation therapy.  Radiation is effective for killing microscopic cancer cells but it damages the normal tissue.  Many lumpectomy (breast conservation therapy) patients also experience significant deformities post radiation.  Please visit with your breast surgeon first for a followup exam.  After you have completed your radiation and are cancer free - I would recommend you visit with a board certified plastic surgeon.