Robots could transform breast surgery forever
“Wait, I can feel that?” Ami Brasure remembers thinking. For most of us, the experience that dazzled her couldn’t be more ordinary: You’re standing around, maybe in your kitchen or living room, drinking something a little too carelessly, and before you know it, the liquid is dribbling down your chin and trickling down your chest […]
In December 2025, the FDA approved the da Vinci single-port surgical system for robot-assisted breast cancer surgery, which includes nipple-sparing mastectomies. This technology aims to provide smaller, hidden scars and improved views of the breast during the procedure. Some patients undergoing mastectomies report better sensation in the chest area following such surgeries.
However, critics argue that there is a lack of conclusive long-term evidence proving that robotic nipple-sparing mastectomies are as effective as traditional open mastectomies in preventing cancer recurrence, despite being technically safe to perform.
Ami Brasure, a 50-year-old retail sales manager from the Washington, DC area, experienced life-affirming sensations after her double mastectomy due to a stage one breast cancer diagnosis. She was particularly excited when Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, chief of breast surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, offered her the opportunity to be the first patient to undergo a surgery utilizing the new robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy technique.
De La Cruz's approach involved removing the breast tissue while preserving the nipples and skin using the da Vinci single-port robotic surgical system. The surgery was performed through a single, 4-centimeter incision on each breast, which resulted in hidden surgical scars and a shorter recovery period. This method also offered the possibility of restoring sensation in Brasure's breasts post-surgery.
While some surgeons have embraced this new technology due to its potential to improve patient outcomes, such as better sensation preservation and reduced surgical scars, others remain skeptical. They question whether the technology has outpaced the available evidence, particularly concerning cancer recurrence prevention, which is a critical aspect of cancer treatment.
Despite the divide among oncological surgeons, robotic nipple-sparing mastectomies have the potential to revolutionize women's health by offering more natural-looking results, quicker recovery times, and preserved sensation, making them an appealing option for many women facing breast cancer treatment.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
