Breast Surgery

Surgeons offering lumpectomy, mastectomy and more

At St. Luke’s, we treat a variety of breast issues. Not every issue will require surgery, but some may. We will work with you to determine if you need breast surgery.

How do I know if I need breast surgery?
If your breasts start to look or feel differently, it’s always best to address it right away. Call your primary care provider or St. Luke’s Comprehensive Breast Program at 218.249.2662, and one of St. Luke’s Nurse Navigators will get you in quickly for an appointment. We will work with you to determine if you need breast surgery.

What kind of breast surgery is available at St. Luke’s?
St. Luke’s team of general surgeons are experts in surgically treating breast diseases and disorders. This includes:

• Removal of breast lumps (lumpectomy)
• Breast removal (mastectomy)
• Removal of skin cancer on the breast (wide local excision)
• Reoccurring breast infections
• Nipple discharge (central ductal excisions)
• Calculating an individual’s lifetime risk of breast cancer and how to decrease it
• Recommending the best breast cancer screening plan
• Treating pre-cancerous changes in breast tissue
• Collaboratively treating breast cancer with other specialists in St. Luke’s Comprehensive Breast Program

Does St. Luke’s offer cosmetic breast surgery?
Some of our surgeons offer a surgical approach to breast cancer that improves cosmetic outcomes (oncoplastic resections). If breast reconstruction is desired, St. Luke’s partners with plastic surgeons who can be consulted.

What is the recovery time for breast surgery?
Recovery times depend on the procedure. However, many breast surgeries are same-day procedures and have a very short recovery time.

Is breast surgery painful?
Your comfort is important to us. This is why we use multiple methods of pain control when you have breast surgery at St. Luke’s. This includes local and regional options such as nerve blocks, oral pain medications, and anti-inflammatory medications.

High Risk Breast Program
The American Society of Breast Surgeons and several other groups who make recommendations for breast health recommend that every woman should have her lifetime risk of breast cancer assessed. This will determine if additional imaging or risk reduction would be helpful. At St Luke’s, when you come for a mammogram, a screening questionnaire is completed to calculate your lifetime risk. Alternatively, you can schedule a consultation to discuss your unique history, calculate your risk and hear options to reduce your lifetime risk.

St. Luke's does not require a referral for this service. To see if your insurance company requires one, call the number on your card.

To schedule an appointment, call St. Luke’s Comprehensive Breast Program at 218.249.2662.