Dr Ali Rizvi is a specialist breast cancer surgeon serving South West Sydney, providing evidence-based cancer surgery with oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques.
Patients are supported through diagnosis, surgery, and recovery with a focus on safety, clarity, and personalised care.
Breast cancer surgery is performed to remove cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Surgery may be recommended for confirmed breast cancer or suspicious breast lumps that require diagnosis or treatment. The type of surgery depends on tumour features, lymph node involvement, and individual patient factors, and is usually part of a coordinated treatment plan.
Dr. Ali Rizvi’s breast cancer surgery Sydney is delivered through a multidisciplinary (MDT) approach, ensuring your care is coordinated from diagnosis through to recovery. Treatment focuses on cancer safety while preserving form, function, and aesthetic outcomes.
Explore the types of breast cancer surgery below
Many patients seeking breast cancer surgery in South West Sydney first present with a breast lump. While most breast lumps are benign, early assessment is essential to determine whether cancer is present and whether surgery is required.
A breast lump is a localized swelling or mass in the breast tissue. While most lumps are benign, some can indicate cancer. During consultation, Dr Ali Rizvi will evaluate the lump through imaging and breast biopsy if needed. Recognizing a breast lump early is crucial for effective treatment and planning possible breast reconstruction after surgery.
Knowing when a breast lump when to worry is important. You should seek medical assessment if a breast lump:
Early evaluation allows timely intervention, which may involve lumpectomy, mastectomy, or oncoplastic surgery, often with reconstructive options to restore breast shape.
Breast cancer lumps are often not painful, which can make them easy to miss. Some patients experience discomfort, but pain alone is not a reliable indicator of cancer. Any new or changing lump should be assessed by a breast surgeon to determine appropriate treatment.
A lump under breast can occur near the chest wall, in the lower breast tissue, or beneath the nipple. Like other breast lumps, evaluation with imaging and biopsy is essential to rule out cancer. Treatment can range from conservative excision to more extensive oncoplastic or mastectomy procedures, with reconstruction considered as part of the surgical plan.
Many patients wonder, what do breast cancer lumps feel like. Typically, they are hard, irregular in shape, and may feel fixed to surrounding tissue. Unlike benign cysts, cancerous lumps often do not move easily. Knowing the texture and appearance of a suspicious lump helps in early detection, surgical planning, and deciding on reconstruction options if surgery is needed.
Early detection through breast screening significantly increases eligibility for breast-conserving surgery and reduces the need for extensive reconstruction.
Regular breast screening is one of the most effective ways to detect breast cancer early. Screening can identify non-palpable cancers — lumps that are too small to feel — long before symptoms appear. Early detection improves treatment outcomes and increases options for breast-conserving surgery or reconstruction. If you notice any changes in your breasts or are due for imaging, scheduling a screening can make a life-saving difference.
Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery is commonly recommended for eligible breast cancer patients in South West Sydney to safely remove cancer while preserving breast shape.
Learn more about oncoplastic breast conserving surgery vs mastectomy.
What it is:
This surgery removes cancer while reshaping the breast to preserve its appearance. It combines oncologic safety with aesthetic reconstruction.
When surgery is recommended:
Suitable for cancers where breast-conserving therapy is safe and reshaping can maintain breast contour.
Procedure:
Type 1 – Volume Displacement: Small reshaping or mastopexy for ≤20% volume loss.
Type 2 – Therapeutic Reduction: Larger reshaping (20–50% volume loss), sometimes with contralateral surgery for symmetry.
Recovery:
Day surgery or short hospital stay depending on size and reconstruction. Patients follow wound care and arm exercises, with follow-up for pathology results.
Volume replacement techniques are used when cancer removal would otherwise leave a visible defect, allowing patients to avoid mastectomy while maintaining breast contour
What it is:
Used when lumpectomy removes too much tissue for reshaping alone. Tissue from nearby areas is used to fill defects and preserve nipple position.
When surgery is recommended:
For larger lumpectomy defects that cannot maintain contour with volume displacement alone.
Procedure:
LICAP flap: For lateral breast defects.
AICAP flap: For lower or medial defects.
Recovery:
Short hospital stay with care for the donor site. Gradual return to normal activity over 1–2 weeks.
Mastectomy is recommended when breast-conserving surgery is not safe or when risk-reducing surgery is chosen due to genetic or cancer-related factors
What it is:
Mastectomy removes breast tissue, sometimes including skin and nipple, depending on cancer type and patient preference.
When surgery is recommended:
For tumors requiring total or partial removal, or when hereditary risk justifies preventive surgery.
Procedure:
Simple mastectomy: Removes all breast tissue.
Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM): Preserves most skin for reconstruction.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM): Preserves nipple and areola if safe.
Recovery:
Typically an overnight stay. Drain management and gradual return to activity are required.
Mastectomy is recommended when breast-conserving surgery is not safe or when risk-reducing surgery is chosen due to genetic or cancer-related factors
What it is:
Uses silicone or saline implants to restore breast shape after mastectomy. Can be performed in a single stage or multiple stages.
When surgery is recommended:
For patients seeking implant-based reconstruction after mastectomy, either immediately or delayed.
Procedure:
Pre-pectoral (above the muscle) or sub-pectoral (under the muscle) placement
Single-stage or two-stage reconstruction, sometimes with mesh support
Recovery:
Hospital stay varies. Patients manage wound care and gradually resume activities. Pain and tightness are normal early on, and follow-up ensures proper implant positioning and healing.
In selected cases, breast implants can also be combined with a breast lift to restore shape and improve symmetry after breast cancer surgery or reconstruction. This approach may be recommended when breast volume needs to be replaced or when a more lifted contour is desired following tissue removal or radiation changes. Every reconstructive plan is personalised to suit the patient’s anatomy, goals, and overall treatment pathway.
Breast reconstruction is not about aesthetics alone — it supports emotional recovery, body confidence, and long-term wellbeing after breast cancer treatment
What it is:
Restores breast shape after mastectomy or large-volume lumpectomy.
When surgery is recommended:
Patients desiring aesthetic and functional restoration.
Procedure:
Implant-based: Pre- or sub-pectoral, single or two-stage.
Autologous/regional flaps: LD, LICAP/AICAP flaps, or fat grafting.
Recovery:
Hospital stay varies. Care includes wound management, donor-site monitoring if applicable, and gradual return to normal activity.
Risk-reducing breast surgery is a highly personal decision guided by genetic risk, family history, and patient preferences.
What it is:
Some patients carry a higher genetic risk for breast cancer, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Risk-reducing surgery aims to lower the chance of developing breast cancer while maintaining breast shape as much as possible.
When surgery is recommended:
For patients with high-risk genetic markers, strong family history, or other hereditary concerns seeking preventive mastectomy.
Procedure:
Skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy, planned alongside systemic therapy if needed.
Reconstruction is usually performed at the same time to preserve breast contour.
Recovery:
Similar to standard mastectomy and reconstruction. Patients have tailored follow-up and surveillance according to individual risk and surgical plan.
Symmetry procedures are often part of the final stage of breast cancer surgery, helping patients feel balanced and complete after treatment.
What it is:
After cancer treatment or reconstruction, one breast may differ in size, shape, or position from the other. Symmetry surgery improves overall appearance and balance.
When surgery is recommended:
For patients who have noticeable asymmetry after breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, or reconstruction.
Procedure:
Mastopexy (breast lift) or reduction on the contralateral side
Nipple-areola reconstruction if needed
Fat grafting or minor contour adjustments to balance shape
Recovery:
Most procedures are day surgery or short admission. Patients follow wound care and scar management instructions, with gradual return to normal activity. Full healing typically takes several weeks.
Sentinel lymph node surgery is a critical part of breast cancer staging and guides further treatment decisions
What it is:
Evaluates or treats regional lymph nodes in breast cancer. Sentinal lymph nodes are the first-tier draining nodes for the breast. They are crucial as they are the first ones to receive the cancer cells if the breast cancer spreads. Checking them via sentinel node biopsy helps surgeons determine if further lymph node removal (axillary dissection) is needed. This guides treatment and reduces side effects like lymphedema.
When surgery is recommended:
When cancer may have spread to lymph nodes, or for staging purposes. Usually performed when there is either a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (often >2-3 positive nodes), palpable or suspicious nodes on imaging, or when there is a large tumor volume. It aims to remove cancerous nodes and prevent further spread. Newer techniques are reducing the need for this procedure in low-risk cases.
Procedure:
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB): Removes key nodes to guide treatment.
Axillary Clearance: Removes additional nodes if cancer is confirmed.
Recovery:
Day surgery or short stay. Arm exercises and drainage care are important to prevent lymphedema.
Fat grafting is commonly used to refine contour irregularities following breast cancer surgery or reconstruction.
What it is:
Autologous fat is taken from another part of the body and injected into the breast to improve contour, correct asymmetry, or smooth irregularities after surgery.
When surgery is recommended:
After breast-conserving surgery, reconstruction, or to refine the contour around implants or radiation-treated tissue.
Procedure:
Fat is harvested, processed, and injected in small amounts to create a natural, smooth shape
Multiple sessions may be needed to achieve optimal results
Recovery:
Bruising and tightness may last 1–2 weeks. Light activity can usually resume in a few days. Compression garments may be required for donor areas.
Dr Ali Rizvi provides breast cancer surgery for patients across South West Sydney, including Campbelltown, Liverpool, Camden, Macarthur, and surrounding areas. Care is coordinated with imaging, oncology, and breast care nursing teams to ensure continuity from diagnosis through recovery.
Patients across Campbelltown, Liverpool, Camden, Macarthur, and South West Sydney are referred for breast cancer surgery with coordinated hospital care. Dr Ali Rizvi works closely with local GPs, imaging centres, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely assessment and treatment planning.
Referral Process:
A referral from a GP or specialist is required for breast cancer surgery.
Early referral is recommended, particularly if a lump is detected, screening results are abnormal, or there is a high hereditary risk.
Once referred, Dr Rizvi’s team provides:
Local Care Benefits:
Access to specialist breast cancer surgery close to home
Coordinated care across accredited South West Sydney hospitals
Faster investigations and treatment planning
Continuity of care before, during, and after surgery
Patients are guided step-by-step from referral to recovery, ensuring peace of mind, safety, and personalised care throughout their surgical journey.
If you’re asking, what does breast lump feel like, it is usually a firm or irregular area within the breast. It may or may not be tender. Detecting these lumps early and seeking prompt assessment by a surgeon ensures timely treatment and preserves options for breast reconstruction following removal.
Treatment depends on the type and size of the lump. Options include lumpectomy, mastectomy, or oncoplastic surgery, sometimes followed by reconstruction using implants or fat grafts.
Reconstruction can be immediate (during the same surgery as cancer removal) or delayed (after healing or additional treatments like chemotherapy/radiation). Your surgeon will help determine the best timing.
Recovery varies depending on the procedure. Lumpectomy often has a shorter recovery, while mastectomy with reconstruction may require several weeks. Post-operative care includes pain management, wound care, and follow-up appointments.
If you’ve found a breast lump or are preparing for breast cancer surgery, book an appointment for guidance, assessment, and next steps.
Visit our Surgery in Sydney page to explore all procedures offered by Dr Ali Rizvi and learn how we can help you with your surgical care.
