A nipple-sparing mastectomy is a type of breast cancer surgery that removes the breast tissue while preserving the natural skin, nipple, and areola. This approach allows for a more natural-looking breast after reconstruction, offering emotional and cosmetic benefits for many patients.
Unlike a traditional mastectomy, which removes the nipple and often results in more visible scarring, a nipple-sparing mastectomy maintains the outward appearance of the breast while still treating the underlying disease.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy is often recommended when the cancer is small and located away from the nipple, or when the procedure is preventative (prophylactic) for patients at a high genetic risk. Because safety is always the priority, your surgical team will determine if this approach is right for you.
During a nipple-sparing mastectomy, your surgeon carefully removes the breast tissue through a small, strategically placed incision. In many cases, this incision is positioned along the natural fold beneath the breast or around the areola, allowing the nipple, areola, and outer breast skin to be preserved. When appropriate, hidden scar techniques may be used to place the incision in a less visible area, helping minimize long-term scarring while maintaining oncologic safety.
To ensure the procedure is safe, your surgeon will take a small sample of tissue from beneath the nipple during surgery and evaluate it for cancer (called an intraoperative biopsy). If cancer cells are detected at that time, the nipple and areola must be removed to ensure the disease is fully treated.
The goal of a nipple-sparing mastectomy is to treat or prevent breast cancer while preserving as much of the natural breast appearance as possible. When combined with reconstruction, this approach supports both physical healing and emotional well-being.
A nipple-sparing mastectomy with reconstruction typically takes between 3 and 6 hours, depending on the type of reconstruction performed.
