A Cleveland Clinic team has performed Ohio’s first robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, a procedure that removes breast tissue while preserving the nipple, areola and skin for selected patients.
Stephanie Valente, D.O., and the team performed the surgery with immediate reconstruction at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. The hospital said the procedure followed recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for the technology.
Surgeons use a 3D camera and robotic instruments through an incision of about one inch, usually along the side of the breast. The traditional open approach uses a larger incision.
The smaller access point is designed to reduce visible scarring and may support faster recovery, while the robotic view can help surgeons work precisely. The approach expands options for some people with breast cancer or an elevated risk of breast cancer.
