Benign breast surgery
We carry out a full range of benign breast surgery at the Princess Anne Hospital. You are welcome to discuss the details of these procedures with the breast surgery team.
Some useful information leaflets about benign breast conditions and their management are available below (provided by the charity Breast Cancer Now).
Surgery for benign breast conditions
In certain benign breast conditions we would offer surgery to remove the abnormal area to manage any symptoms or to further look at the tissue under a microscope with our pathologists. Most benign breast conditions that need surgery can be done as a day case unless other medical conditions prevent this.
Breast surgical excision biopsy
The more common conditions including some fibroadenoma (over 2cm), benign phyllodes, or indeterminate (or B3 lesions) conditions such as (hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, intraductal papilloma, lobular neoplasia) we would offer to remove the abnormal area with a procedure called excision biopsy. This procedure may require an ultrasound or a wire localisation on the day of surgery; we would then remove the lump or an area of tissue. When this area is removed is can be assessed further by our pathology team and these results given in clinic one to two weeks later.
Breast surgery on the ducts
Some benign breast conditions require a procedure to remove one or some of the milk ducts behind the nipple. Typically this is for ongoing nipple discharge or abnormal areas situated behind the nipple.
Surgery for breast abscesses
Some patients who develop a breast abscess cannot have drainage using a needle alone. Occasionally these patients will need to be admitted and have an open incision to drain any infection. This may be through the hospital’s acute surgical unit. This is called an incision and drainage. It may happen at the Southampton General Hospital or the Princess Anne Hospital, and can be carried out by a breast specialist surgeon or a general surgeon.
Gynaecomastia
Gynaecomastia is one of the most common conditions we diagnose in men with a breast lump. This is a common benign (not cancer) enlargement of male breast tissue.
At present surgery for gynaecomastia is not currently offered under the NHS. You can find more information including causes, diagnosis and treatment here.