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Dr. Jay Harness
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VIDEO: Dr. Harness - Oncoplastic Surgery, Is It Painful?

Dr. Harness discusses if oncoplastic surgery is painful.

Dr. Harness, M.D.:
The pain following oncoplastic surgery, if you are doing just reshaping of the breast, is no more painful than a typical lumpectomy. If you put a tissue expander in, there’s probably a little bit more discomfort because of lifting the muscle off the chest wall. So that’s going to be a little more uncomfortable.

If the oncoplastic surgery involves rotating a flap from the belly or the back, there’s no question that that’s major surgery. You have got more incisions that are going to be more painful. I’d like to hope that the surgeons – breast, general, plastic surgeons – are using local anesthesia at the site of all of their incisions to help with the post-operative pain.

About Dr. Harness, M.D.:
Dr. Jay Harness, M.D., is the Director at St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center. Practicing medicine for 35 years, Dr. Harness specializes in general surgery and medical oncology. Graduating medical school from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he conducting his internship and residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Recognized nationally and internationally for his work in breast and endocrine surgery, Dr. Harness is the immediate past-President of The American Society of Breast Surgeons and is President-elect of Breast Surgery International. Dr. Harness can assist patients in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Visit Dr. Harness at St. Joseph Hospital

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