Breast Biopsy, Mastectomy and Reconstruction

Our Locations

Breast Biopsy, Mastectomy and Reconstruction at Trinity Health Michigan: Why Choose Us?

We are a leader in breast procedures, from needle biopsies to surgery for breast cancer. For decades, our physicians have cared for women across Southeast and West Michigan. Our breast centers provide:

• Expert surgeons: You receive care from surgeons specializing in the latest techniques that remove cancer with excellent cosmetic results. Our board-certified breast surgeons and plastic surgeons are skilled in performing breast-conserving techniques and advanced reconstruction procedures.
   
• Complete care: If you need other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, we coordinate your care and guide you through each step. Experts from multiple specialties build your customized care plan, including surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists.
   
• Support: If you’re coping with a breast cancer diagnosis, you’re not alone. We care for your emotional and mental well-being before, during and after your treatment. Learn more about our cancer support services.

Breast Biopsy and Breast Surgery Services We Provide

We personalize your care based on your specific diagnosis, health needs and lifestyle. You may need surgery at different points during your care, including:

• Biopsy to diagnose (or rule out) cancer
• Surgery to treat cancer
• Reconstructive procedure to rebuild the breast after treatment

We perform the full range of breast biopsy and breast cancer surgery procedures, including:

Needle Biopsy

Needle biopsies are less invasive than surgical biopsies, and you recover faster. This method results in little to no scarring. Our skilled physicians use advanced technology to perform most breast biopsies using these techniques. Types of needle biopsies we perform include:

• Fine needle aspiration: We use a very thin needle to collect a small sample of tissue or fluid. We may use ultrasound imaging to guide the needle during the procedure.
   
• Core needle biopsy: A core biopsy needle is larger than a fine needle, so we use this if we need to collect more breast tissue. Our experts may use ultrasound or MRI imaging to guide the needle to the precise location.
   
• Stereotactic breast biopsy: We first use mammography or 3D mammography to pinpoint the suspicious area. We take several images to determine the exact location before guiding a core needle into the targeted area.

Surgical Biopsy

During a surgical biopsy, we focus on your comfort and provide anesthesia (numbing medicine) and sedation. Our experts may recommend this biopsy method if we need:

• A larger sample size
• More information about your needle biopsy results

Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

Our surgeons perform a lumpectomy to remove early-stage breast cancer while preserving most of your breast. If you are eligible for a lumpectomy, we talk with you about what to expect during and after the surgery.

In most cases, women who choose a lumpectomy over a mastectomy (removing the entire breast) also need radiation therapy. In these cases, we coordinate your care with our board-certified radiation oncologists.

Mastectomy

Our board-certified breast surgeons perform mastectomies for women who don’t want or can’t have a lumpectomy. The type of mastectomy you need depends on your diagnosis, cancer location and your preferences.

Before planning your surgery, we ask you about your goals, including whether you want breast reconstruction. Then, we explain the type of mastectomy that may be best for you. Our expert breast surgeons perform:

• Nipple-sparing mastectomy: We remove all the breast tissue, leaving the nipple, areola and skin intact. We often combine this surgery with breast reconstruction. Many people experience natural-looking cosmetic results with little scarring after this surgery.
   
• Skin-sparing mastectomy: We keep most of the skin of the breast but remove the breast tissue, nipple and areola. Our surgeons may perform this procedure if a nipple-sparing mastectomy isn’t right for you. We remove all cancerous cells while preserving the skin for a more natural-looking result.
   
• Simple (total) mastectomy: We remove all the breast tissue, skin, nipple and areola. Our surgeons also remove nearby lymph nodes to check if cancer has spread. We perform this procedure if you have breast cancer that affects the skin, like inflammatory breast cancer, or if a skin-sparing or nipple-sparing procedure isn’t appropriate.
   
• Prophylactic mastectomy: We remove one or both breasts to prevent breast cancer. The decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy is personal, and we walk you through the pros and cons. Our surgeons may offer this procedure if you have a high risk of breast cancer or BRCA gene mutations. Learn more about our BRCA genetic testing.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgery rebuilds the breast mound after a mastectomy. Our caring team knows it can be difficult to decide what kind of reconstruction, if any, you would like. So we focus on making this decision easier for you, and we only move forward when you’re ready.

We take the time to explain each of your options and answer your questions. Our surgeons can often combine mastectomy with reconstruction in one procedure. We also perform successful breast reconstruction months or years after a mastectomy.

Our board-certified breast surgeons and plastic surgeons use techniques to minimize scarring and provide a natural-looking result. Your breast reconstruction may include:

• Breast implants filled with silicone gel or saline (salt water)
• Your tissue, taken from another area of your body (autologous reconstruction)

Whatever you decide, our team is here for you every step of the way. We help coordinate any follow-up care after your surgery and provide ongoing support.