Mytae

Can a breast biopsy cause disfigurement? I had a biopsy a couple of days ago. The lump is under the right nipple and the doctor went in and took 6 pieces of it. Now, I have a "bandaid" like bandage on the area where she went in which is about a centimeter from the nipple. The surgeon told me to leave it there until it falls off. When I look down at my breast, it no longer looks round to me on the side of the nipple where she went in to do the biopsy. It looks sort of indented. I don't know if the bandage is causing this, but I don't think it's heavy enough to press the skin in that much. Now, I regret doing this. I don't have the kind of money celebrities do for example to go and have the "damage" fixed. I'm 31 years old and I'm afraid I'll look like this for the rest of my life. Is this supposed to happen with a biopsy??? What do I do???

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Mytae, There are many types of biopsy procedures.  The types range from a fine needle aspiration which is a non-surgical form of breast biopsy in which a small needle is used to withdraw a sample of cells from the breast lump, to an open excisional biopsy in which the entire mass is removed.  The type of biopsy recommended depends on how large the breast lump or abnormal area is; where in the breast it is located; how many lumps or abnormal areas, such as suspicious calcifications, are present.

After any type of biopsy procedure there can be swelling, bruising or other changes at the site.   As the area heals these changes usually resolve.  It will take some time for the site to heal perhaps a couple of weeks.  If an open excisional biopsy were done there would be a small scar at the site but that too usually heals and fades over time.   If the area is not healing, or becomes increasingly reddened, swollen or painful, or if you develop a fever, contact your surgeon.