Axillary Breast Tissue Removal - Surgery, Before & After Result (2023)

FAQs

What to expect after axillary breast tissue removal? ›

Axillary Breast Tissue Removal Recovery

You should expect swelling to recede in around two weeks. Please avoid strenuous activity during this time to allow your body to heal fully. Exercise should be avoided for three to four weeks, but you will be able to return to work within a week of the procedure.

Axillary Breast Tissue Removal Recovery

The recovery time is consistent with both procedures, and swelling should recede within two weeks. It is advised that patients avoid strenuous activity or exercise for three to four weeks post-procedure, but you will be able to resume work or school activities within a week.

With regards to the axilla, there are a number of nerves (intercostobrachial nerves) that can be damaged or severed during the procedure. This will often lead to permanent numbness in the armpit, on the lateral chest wall and on the underside of the upper arm.

In addition, it is cosmetically unsightful, and consequently, patients often desire surgery for improvement. We present a study of 28 patients who underwent surgical removal of their axillary breast tissue. From these successful reports, we recommend that axillary breast tissue should be surgically removed.

Is the procedure painful? The procedure is performed under anesthesia, so patients will not feel any pain during the surgery. However, some discomfort and pain may be experienced during the recovery period.

The drain is subsequently removed 3 to 7 days after surgery.

Unless there is concern about whether or not the tissue in your axilla is unhealthy, this procedure is usually not covered by insurance. It is considered cosmetic in nature, and the cost for removal may vary widely depending on the technique used and the surgeon's fees.

The prevalence of accessory breast tissue ranges from 2% to 6% in females and from 1% to 3% in males. It is found less in Caucasians than Asians, with the Japanese having a high prevalence of around 5% [1]. They are often noticed when the patient has symptoms, either as swelling or with associated pain.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) after breast and axillary surgery range in presentation from superficial cellulitis overlying the area of surgical incisions to deep abscesses accumulating in the dead-space, or implant, or tissue flap infection.

If you notice any symptoms, such as swelling and tenderness, or restriction in the range of arm motion, or are otherwise concerned, you should see your doctor. Symptomatic accessory breast tissue can be removed surgically if required.

Can axillary breast tissue become cancerous? ›

Accessory breast development is hormone dependent just like normal breast. Breast cancer in accessory breast tissue is very rare. The incidence is around 6%. Most common pathology is invasive ductal carcinoma (50–75%).

You are at risk of long term swelling (lymphoedema) in your hand and arm after surgery to remove your lymph nodes in the armpit. This is swelling caused by lymph fluid that can't drain away. It can happen any time after surgery and radiotherapy to your armpit.

Well the short answer is yes, breast tissue can grow back after surgery, under certain circumstances. It's more likely to happen to younger women whose breasts are still growing. Especially if they also have significant amounts of glandular tissue.

Research shows that between 3.7% and 17% of women will experience lymphedema after sentinel lymph node dissection. You can learn about how to minimize and manage lymphedema in our Lymphedema section.

You may not take a shower until the day after your drain(s) have been removed. You may take a sponge bath or bathe in a shallow tub splashing or dabbing water on your incision(s), but keeping the drain sites dry.

Can axillary breast tissue go away on its own? No, axillary breast tissue can decrease in size due to hormonal fluctuations, but it will not disappear. These tissues are similar to the breasts, and just like them, they can also decrease or increase in size with weight loss or gain.

Because axillary breast tissue is often hereditary, it rarely responds to healthy changes in diet or exercise. Most people who have axillary breast tissue dislike how it looks. It can make the affected area appear lumpy, especially when the arms are down at the sides.

Most insurance companies will want to know the weight of breast tissue the plastic surgeon believes he or she can remove during a breast reduction. This number may be 450 grams, 500 grams or 600 grams.

Unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy means that it occurs on one side of the body only and is sometimes associated with breast cancer. However, unilateral cases can also be caused by autoimmune diseases, and not necessarily breast cancer. Bilateral. Bilateral cases occur on both sides of the body.

What is the most common axillary mass? ›

The most common axillary lesion is be- nign reactive lymph node hyperplasia. It is caused by inflammation of the lymph nodes or the adjacent organs, such as the breast or lung.

A lump in the axilla may represent a primary breast cancer, a benign neoplasm, an enlarged reactive lymph node, or a metastasis to a lymph node. Other clinical symptoms that might be seen with breast cancer include skin changes, such as skin dimpling, redness, scaling, and ulceration, which may look like a large sore.

Lymphoedema The most serious complication from an axillary lymph node clearance can be lymphoedema. This is a swelling of the arm as a result of a build-up of lymphatic fluid. This is due to the damage caused to the lymphatic system, which can happen when we remove all the lymph nodes.

During an axillary lymph node dissection, the surgeon makes an incision (cut) under the arm and removes most of the lymph nodes from the area. During this procedure, there is a chance that your intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) may be damaged.

Axillary seromas can be treated with aspiration (removing the fluid with a needle) or by placing a drain into the seroma. Small seromas may resolve on their own.

Accessory breast tissue is found in 2%–6% of the general population and is less common in Caucasians [1]. It is formed due to an abnormality in breast development but results in similar pathologies to pectoral breast tissue.

Axillary breast is caused by the development of breast tissue outside of the normal breast area. It is most likely to occur in the axilla, or armpit. Axillary breast is not common. Data indicates that this congenital condition occurs in approximately 2 to 6 percent of women and 1 to 3 percent of men.

The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes is that they feel hard or swollen. You might have any of the following symptoms if your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes: a lump or swelling under your armpit. swelling in your arm or hand (lymphoedema)

In total, there are between 20 to 30 axillary lymph nodes, though the exact number varies between individuals.

If you had lymph nodes removed, your immune system may not work as well on that side of your body. The more lymph nodes and vessels you had taken out, the greater the potential impact.

How do you clean your armpits after surgery? ›

Use a mild soap or just water to wash your wound for the first 6 weeks. Please do not lie back and soak in the bath for at least 6 weeks, as this can soften the wound and cause it to open. Pat your wound dry with a clean towel. If you have surgical glue on your wound, please do not pick at it.

Some of the nerves in your armpit may be cut during surgery, which can cause numbness. If your surgeon had to move around some of the tissue under the surface of your skin, the area may feel tender and swollen.

Your Recovery

After surgery, you will probably feel weak. You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks. You also may feel pulling or stretching in your breast area. Although you may need pain medicine for a week or two, you can expect to feel better and stronger each day.

A mastectomy is an operation to remove a breast. It's used to treat breast cancer in women and breast cancer in men. The operation takes about 90 minutes, and most people go home the following day.

A mastectomy is surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast as a way to treat or prevent breast cancer. For those with early-stage breast cancer, a mastectomy may be one treatment option. Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), in which only the tumor is removed from the breast, may be another option.

An axillary seroma may feel like a soft lump under the arm on the side of axillary surgery. If it is larger, it may show up as a bulge in the armpit. Your surgeon can diagnose a seroma by examining you and if needed by using ultrasound.

Risks of axillary lymph node dissection

Tingling, numbness, stiffness, weakness, or lymphedema (swelling of the arm). It's important not to let your arm become weak and stiff as a result of discomfort and limited range of motion (mobility) after surgery.

A seroma, one of the most common potential complications after surgery, refers to the accumulation of uninfected and clear (i.e., serous) fluid under the skin. Seromas are usually found near the site of a surgical incision and can form soon after surgery or, sometimes, weeks later.

Nerve pain after surgery, also called postoperative neuropathic pain, is nerve damage that presents itself as burning, stabbing, or shooting pain in the area where a patient has had surgery. This postoperative nerve pain can last for months, and in some cases, years.

You will be required to wear anti-embolism stockings on the day of surgery and for seven- fourteen days post-surgery, unless there is a medical reason. Having an operation can increase your risk of a blood clot.

What nerves are affected by axillary dissection? ›

Two additional nerves are of particular interest to surgeons because they are vulnerable to injury during axillary dissection: the long thoracic nerve, which is a branch of the brachial plexus, and the intercostobrachial nerve. The long thoracic nerve is located on the medial wall of the axilla.

Neurologic Injuries

The most common neurologic complication due to axillary dissection is the intercostobrachial nerve syndrome, characterized by fairly constant paresthesias and dull, aching, or burning pain of the upper arm, shoulder, and axilla, and occasionally of the more anterior chest wall.

Injury to the thoracodorsal nerve is one of the complications related to the axillary dissection.