New Technology Allows for Scarless Breast Tumour Removal

At the leading Israeli clinic Ichilov, an innovative technology has been developed and successfully tested that prevents scar formation after surgical removal of tumours in patients with breast cancer. A recently completed study conducted in the dermatology department of the medical center showed that the use of two types of lasers significantly minimizes tissue scarring after breast tumour removal surgery.

The surgical method is the primary treatment for breast cancer. Surgery is performed regardless of the stage at which the disease was detected. However, any intervention, no matter how flawlessly it is performed, leaves behind scars that noticeably reduce the quality of life for women. This is not only about the cosmetic defect, which can have a negative psychological impact. Scars formed after tumour removal often cause significant discomfort – they can ache, itch, pulsate, create a feeling of tight skin, and deform adjacent tissues.

Traditional methods aimed at minimizing scarring include the use of special pressure dressings and silicone bandages, as well as recommendations to limit sun exposure. The new approach, however, provides a more aesthetic result compared to existing methods.

At its core are laser technologies that have significantly advanced in recent times, greatly expanding the arsenal of plastic surgery and dermatology. Laser equipment has long been successfully used for correcting postoperative scars – largely due to the composition of the skin, three-quarters of which is water. When exposed to the laser, the temperature in the treated area rises several hundred times, causing old cells to literally evaporate. Their remnants are subsequently easily exfoliated. Thanks to the active synthesis of collagen, the area of destroyed cells is quickly occupied by young – healthy – cells.

The new technology involves the sequential use of two types of lasers – a pulsed dye laser and a fractional CO2 laser. The first destroys blood vessels, disrupts blood flow, resulting in no nutrients reaching the scar, and collagen deposition ceases. During the second, the epidermis is removed almost to full depth. This initiates restorative processes and stimulates collagen synthesis.

Inspiring Results of the Trials

In the testing of the technique, 18 women aged 34 to 67 who underwent breast tumour removal participated. All of them underwent treatment using the new technology within the first month after the intervention. Only one half of the scar was subjected to laser treatment, while the other half was treated using traditional methods – to ensure necessary control of the results. Participants in the study underwent a ten-minute treatment session once a month, with each of them undergoing a total of three such procedures.

After six months, an independent team of experts evaluated the results. Specialists compared the appearance, thickness, and hardness of the scar in both parts – the one treated with lasers using the new technology and the second, which was treated with traditional methods. The sensations of the women were also taken into account, as they were asked to assess the degree of pain and itching of the scar. The results demonstrated significant improvement in all indicators for absolutely every participant.

Professor Tamar Safra, head of the gynecological oncology department at Ichilov Medical Center, who led the study, spoke about the importance of the new treatment for improving the quality of life of patients who have undergone breast tumour removal. "In recent years, thanks to modern therapeutic methods, survival rates for breast cancer have significantly increased. Many women live for decades after the resection of a tumour. In this light, the emergence of an effective way to minimize the negative consequences of scar formation, which can be painful and aesthetically unappealing, is of great importance," explains the doctor. She also emphasizes that the new technology can be successfully applied for the correction of other types of scars.

Professor Eli Shprecher, head of the dermatology department at Ichilov Hospital, adds: "Dermatology as a medical field is undergoing significant changes in Israel and around the world. The main thing is that we are gaining the ability to offer our patients an increasing variety of technologies along with the implementation of interdisciplinary medical practices and a personalized approach. The emergence of new technology is a result of these changes."