Sydney surgeon offers endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy

Sydney breast surgeon A/Prof Sanjay Warrier is now offering endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy to selected patients in Sydney, with the technique designed to move the access incision away from the front of the breast. The approach may improve scar placement and cosmetic satisfaction for some patients, but it remains major surgery and is only suitable in selected cases.

Why it matters: - Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy gives selected breast cancer and risk-reducing surgery patients another option for how mastectomy access is performed. - The technique may improve scar placement, which is a major concern for many women considering reconstruction or preventive surgery. - The approach still removes breast tissue and remains major surgery, so suitability and risk discussion stay central.

What happened: - Sydney breast surgeon A/Prof Sanjay Warrier is offering endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy to selected patients. - The procedure is being used for mastectomy for breast cancer and for some women having risk-reducing surgery. - Warrier began using a reverse-sequence endoscopic technique in Sydney in May 2026. - The practice published information about the procedure on its website and said more patient information will be added over time. - People seeking more information can visit the practice’s endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy page or contact Warrier & Seah Practice directly.

The details: - The technique uses an endoscope, a narrow camera that gives a magnified view of the surgical field. - Breast tissue is removed through a small access incision positioned away from the front of the breast. - The underlying operation remains a mastectomy, with breast glandular tissue removed to treat breast cancer or reduce future risk. - Conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy can use several recognised incision positions. - With Warrier’s endoscopic approach, the access incision is positioned away from the breast mound. - The incision’s size and location depend on the patient’s anatomy and the surgery required. - A smaller access incision does not mean less breast tissue is removed or that the operation is minor. - Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy remains major breast surgery. - Suitability depends on the individual patient and can include cancer location and characteristics, breast anatomy, nipple preservation, reconstruction plans, general health and healing factors. - The technique may be considered for selected patients with breast cancer and for some women choosing risk-reducing surgery. - Other surgical approaches, including conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy, may be more appropriate in some cases.

Between the lines: - Scar placement is a recurring issue for patients weighing both preventive surgery and reconstruction after breast cancer. - Warrier said interest in the endoscopic approach has grown because incision size and location matter to patients. - A 2025 meta-analysis comparing endoscopic and conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy reported higher cosmetic satisfaction in the endoscopic groups studied. - The same review found no significant difference in reported oncological outcomes during the follow-up periods available. - The review also reported longer operating times with the endoscopic approach. - The authors said most studies to date have been non-randomised and observational, often involving selected patient groups, and longer-term outcomes are still being established.

What's next: - Warrier & Seah Practice says further patient information will be added to its website over time. - Patients considering the procedure are expected to discuss suitability, benefits and risks with a qualified breast surgeon. - Ongoing research will continue to shape how endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy is used and which patients are best suited to it.

The bottom line: - Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy is an emerging option in Sydney that may improve cosmetic outcomes for selected patients, but it is still major surgery and not the right choice for everyone.